Heya Craig, Here is a bit of a different translation that seems to me to clear things up, from MN 38: "On seeing a form with the eye, he does not grasp at any theme or details by which -- if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the eye -- evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. On hearing a sound with the ear... On smelling an odor with the nose... One tasting a flavor with the tongue... On touching a tactile sensation with the body... On cognizing an idea with the intellect, he does not grasp at any theme or details by which -- if he were to dwell without restraint over the faculty of the intellect -- evil, unskillful qualities such as greed or distress might assail him. Endowed with this noble restraint over the sense faculties, he experiences within himself an unblemished happiness. So, one does not grasp at details inherent to the object itself, nor does one grasp at ideas, mental impressions, associated memories or fantasies with regard to that object or similar objects. Extremely simple example: one sees a sports car and does not marvel over details of its form, nor does one fantasize about the experience of driving it, showing it off, etc.