10.4 Of Sensations as Moral and Immoral

Controverted Point: That the five kinds of sense-consciousness are good and bad (have positive moral quality).

Theravādin: (Verbatim similar to Kv 10.3 PTS CS 10.3.1–PTS CS 10.3.3.) The argument being here, too, that the senses are limited to sense-objects, ethical and intellectual matters being the concerns of intellect, will, etc.

Mahāsaṅghika: Well, but was it not said by the Exalted One:

“Here, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu sees an object with the eye, he grasps,… or again, does not grasp, at the general characters, or the details of it,… or hears a sound, etc. …”?

Surely then the five sorts of sense-consciousness are good and bad.