SN 35.97 Dwelling in Heedlessness

PTS: S iv 79 CDB ii 1179

“Monks, I will teach you about the one who lives in heedlessness (carelessness, negligence, laziness) and the one who lives in heedfulness (care, effort, attentiveness,).

Listen and pay careful attention, I will speak.”

“As you say, venerable sir,” the monks answered.

The Blessed One said: “And how does a monk live in heedlessness?

When the awareness at the eye is left open and unguarded, the mind becomes soaked and stained by all that is seen through the eye. 

When the mind is stained there is no happiness.

When there is no happiness, there is no joy.

When there is no joy, there is no peace.

There being no peace, there is suffering.

The mind of one who is in suffering does not become concentrated.

When the mind is not concentrated, the nature of things does not become clear.

When the nature of things does not become clear, this is called living in heedlessness. 

When the awareness at the ear is left open and unguarded, the mind becomes soaked and stained by all that is heard through the ear. 

When the mind is stained there is no happiness.

When there is no happiness, there is no joy.

When there is no joy, there is no peace.

There being no peace, there is suffering.

The mind of one who is in suffering does not become concentrated.

When the mind is not concentrated, the nature of things does not become clear.

When the nature of things does not become clear, this is called living in heedlessness. 

 When the awareness at the nose is left open and unguarded, the mind becomes soaked and stained by all that is sensed through the eye. 

When the mind is stained there is no happiness.

When there is no happiness, there is no joy.

When there is no joy, there is no peace.

There being no peace, there is suffering.

The mind of one who is in suffering does not become concentrated.

When the mind is not concentrated, the nature of things does not become clear.

When the nature of things does not become clear, this is called living in heedlessness. 

When the awareness at the tongue is left open and unguarded, the mind becomes soaked and stained by all that is tasted through the tongue. 

When the mind is stained there is no happiness.

When there is no happiness, there is no joy.

When there is no joy, there is no peace.

There being no peace, there is suffering.

The mind of one who is in suffering does not become clear, settled or concentrated.

When the mind is not concentrated, the nature of things does not become clear.

When the nature of things does not become clear, this is called living in heedlessness. 

When the awareness at the body is left open and unguarded, the mind becomes soaked and stained by all that is physically sensed through the body. 

When the mind is stained there is no happiness.

When there is no happiness, there is no joy.

When there is no joy, there is no peace.

There being no peace, there is suffering.

The mind of one who is in suffering does not become concentrated.

When the mind is not concentrated, the nature of things does not become clear.

When the nature of things does not become clear, this is called living in heedlessness. 

When the awareness at the mind is left open and unguarded, the mind becomes soaked and stained by all that is known through the mind. 

When the mind is stained there is no happiness.

When there is no happiness, there is no joy.

When there is no joy, there is no peace.

There being no peace, there is suffering.

The mind of one who is in suffering does not become concentrated.

When the mind is not concentrated, the nature of things does not become clear.

When the nature of things does not become clear, this is called living in heedlessness. 

And how does one live in heedfulness?

When the awareness at the eye is guarded and observed, the mind does not become soaked and stained by anything that is seen through the eye. 

When the mind is not stained, happiness arises.

When there is happiness, joy arises.

When there is joy, peace arises.

When there is peace, one lives at ease.

And when at ease, the mind becomes concentrated.

When the mind is concentrated, the nature of things becomes clear..

When the nature of things becomes clear , this is called living in heedfulness. 

When the awareness at the ear is guarded and observed, the mind does not become soaked and stained by anything that is heard through the ear. 

When the mind is not stained, happiness arises.

When there is happiness, joy arises.

When there is joy, peace arises.

When there is peace, one lives at ease.

And when at ease, the mind becomes concentrated.

When the mind is concentrated, the nature of things becomes clear..

When the  s, this is called living in heedfulness.

When the awareness at the nose is guarded and observed, the mind does not become soaked and stained by anything that is sensed through the nose. 

When the mind is not stained, happiness arises.

When there is happiness, joy arises.

When there is joy, peace arises.

When there is peace, one lives at ease.

And when at ease, the mind becomes concentrated.

When the mind is concentrated, the nature of things becomes clear..

When the awareness at the tongue is guarded and observed, the mind does not become soaked and stained by anything that is tasted through the tongue. 

When the mind is not stained, happiness arises.

When there is happiness, joy arises.

When there is joy, peace arises.

When there is peace, one lives at ease.

And when at ease, the mind becomes concentrated.

When the mind is concentrated, the nature of things becomes clear..

When the dhamma arises, this is called living in heedfulness.

When the awareness at the body is guarded and observed, the mind does not become soaked and stained by anything that is physically sensed through the body. 

When the mind is not stained, happiness arises.

When there is happiness, joy arises.

When there is joy, peace arises.

When there is peace, one lives at ease.

And when at ease, the mind becomes concentrated.

When the mind is concentrated, the nature of things becomes clear..

When the dhamma arises, this is called living in heedfulness.

When the awareness at the mind is guarded and observed, the mind does not become soaked and stained by anything that is known through the mind. 

When the mind is not stained, happiness arises.

When there is happiness, joy arises.

When there is peace, one lives at ease.

And when at ease, the mind becomes concentrated.

When the mind is concentrated, the nature of things becomes clear..

That is how one lives in heedfulness.