AN5.144 — Tikaṇḍakīsutta
Once, the Blessed One was residing in Sāketa at the Tikaṇḍakī Forest. There, the Blessed One addressed the disciples, Disciples. Venerable Sir, they replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this, It is good, disciples, that a disciple should at times dwell perceiving the agreeable as disagreeable. It is good, disciples, that a disciple should at times dwell perceiving the disagreeable as agreeable. It is good, disciples, that a disciple should at times dwell perceiving both the agreeable and the disagreeable as disagreeable. It is good, disciples, that a disciple should at times dwell perceiving both the disagreeable and the agreeable as agreeable. It is good, disciples, that a disciple should at times abide, avoiding both the agreeable and the disagreeable, with equanimity, mindful and aware.
And what, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving the agreeable as disagreeable? So that lust might not arise in me for phenomena inducing lust—this, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving the agreeable as disagreeable.
And what, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving the disagreeable as agreeable? So that aversion might not arise in me for phenomena inducing aversion—this, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving the disagreeable as agreeable.
And what, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving both the agreeable and the disagreeable as disagreeable? So that neither lust might arise in me for phenomena inducing lust, nor aversion might arise in me for phenomena inducing aversion—this, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving both the agreeable and the disagreeable as disagreeable.
And what, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving both the disagreeable and the agreeable as agreeable? So that neither aversion might arise in me for phenomena inducing aversion, nor lust might arise in me for phenomena inducing lust—this, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to dwell perceiving both the disagreeable and the agreeable as agreeable.
And what, disciples, is the reason for a disciple to abide, avoiding both the agreeable and the disagreeable, with equanimity? Mindful and fully aware, So that neither might any attachment arise in me anywhere at all for phenomena inducing lust, nor aversion arise for phenomena inducing aversion, nor delusion arise for phenomena inducing delusion.
Disciples, having understood the advantages, a disciple should dwell with equanimity, avoiding both the agreeable and the disagreeable, mindful and clearly knowing.