Good day people, I hope you’re doing great.
I’ve read the Buddha’s teaching on “roaming inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers” (SN 47.7). In the beginning, He said that the “domain of others are the five kinds of sensual stimulation”. Even when this was expanded, I still got confused. Why the five kinds of sensual stimulation are considered the domain of others?
I’d like to get a clear example of that question to get out of doubt. Thanks in advance for your answers.
The context is that he’s teaching monastics. Monastics should be practicing the Dhamma (4 satipatthana, domain of the fathers) and not engaging in the 5 strings of sensuality. The “others” in this context are householders whose domain is the 5 strings of sensuality. He’s contrasting the territory of monastics vs. the territory of householders, exhorting the monastics to practice the Dhamma, to “stay in their lane”.
That’s one interpretation.
I think this is overcomplicating a little bit a more simpler and direct approach. The domain of others IS the five strings of sensuality.
And what is not a mendicant’s own territory but the domain of others?
It’s the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
The “others”, I think, is Mara’s domain. Or, not-yours domain, so you have no business going your way out there.
The reason I pointed out that is because even a householder trying to practice seriously would need to do the same thing: don’t partake on the five types of sensual pleasures.
The contrast is noticeable, that’s true. But, is there a similar way of practice a householder can undertake, according to the suttas?
Examples of the domain of the others are:
And so on.
I guess it just means guarding your senses, being mindful of how these five sensual stimulation in the domain of others affect your mind & your emotions.
I hope it makes sense.
To understand this sutta, I think you should read Majjhima Nikaya 148 first. In MN148, there is an analysis of the six sets of six. The five kinds of sensual stimulation are part of this six sets of six, but since the sutta SN 47.7 you mentioned focuses on the domain of others, the mind-object, mind-consciousness and mind-contact weren’t mentioned. I guess because you are not dealing with others’ minds.
You can also listen to Bhante Bodhi’s Dhamma discourse on this sutta in this series.
Yes. A householder can renounce as much as possible within the household life. Following the 8 precepts, abandoning sensuality, meditating, practicing generosity, etc. The suttas show that well-practicing householders could become non-returners and remain householders. They must have led very pure and modest lives.
IMO, you should also consider AN 6.63 which differentiates between Sense stimulation and Sensual pleasures.
There is a difference between simply experiencing legitimate pleasurable feelings because of the fruition of past good kamma (such as the Buddha being offered tasty alms food or seeing lovely places) and producing greedy intentions for those feelings leading to the thirst for more that keeps one hooked up to Samsara.
That possibility of getting trapped is why Sensual stimulation is the domain of others who can use it to do with you what they will. To escape the trap, you have to be heedful (MN 25).
Think of these suttas when you watch your next film or TV show - the filmmaker manipulates his unwary audience’s thoughts and feelings according to his will. And you keep coming back for more!
Believe me: it does make sense now. Your examples on how hearing music and seeing an agreeable/disagreeable person consist the domain of others made things clear. Thanks 
I rarely watch films, but, when I do so, I try not to exceed, because then I feel like a zombie in auto-pilot…
In my personal experience, sense pleasures can be enjoyed, but not with the intention of putting a definitive end to suffering with them, because worldly pleasures, if not enjoyed intentionally, are not the end in itself.
I was thinking about it lately…
Remember -
That was a time when you experienced the reality of your senses being the “domain of others” - you were stuck in Mara’s trap! And you escaped because instead of responding unskilfully and creating more bad kamma, you retreated to your own territory - the refuge within.
As an aside, you know how the suttas call the 5 senses the “five strands of sensual pleasure”? People can play your 5 senses like a musician plays the harp - eliciting pleasurable (and also painful) feelings in you, no matter if you want it or not.
