To experience things as they are,
as clearly as you can,
do so with as little attachment,
aversion and delusion as you can.– Shilashanti
And how does a noble disciple guard the sense doors?
When a noble disciple sees a sight with the eyes, they don’t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving its restraint.
When they hear a sound with their ears…
When they smell an odor with their nose…
When they taste a flavor with their tongue…
When they feel a touch with their body…
When they know a phenomenon with their mind, they don’t get caught up in the features and details. If the faculty of mind was left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving its restraint.
That’s how a noble disciple guards the sense doors.
Middle Discourses 53: Sekha Sutta: A Trainee)
Translated by Sujato Bhikkhu