The Buddha describes the four types of persons found in the world - those who go with the current, those who go against the current, those who are steady, and those who have crossed over, standing on the firm ground, arahants.

And what, bhikkhus, is the person who goes with the current? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person engages in sensual pleasures and performs unwholesome actions. This is called the person who goes with the current.

And what, bhikkhus, is the person who goes against the current? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person does not indulge in sensual pleasures and does not perform unwholesome actions. Even with suffering, sorrow, tearful face, and crying, they live a fully pure spiritual life. This is called the person who goes against the current.

And what, bhikkhus, is the person who is steady? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, with the complete wearing away of the five lower fetters, becomes spontaneously reborn and there attains final Nibbāna, not subject to returning from that world. This is called the person who is steady.

And what, bhikkhus, is the person who has crossed over, standing on the shore, an awakened one? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, through the complete wearing away of the taints, has attained the taint-free release of mind and release by wisdom, having realized it by direct knowledge in this very life, and lives having attained it. This is called the person who has crossed over, standing on the shore, a brāhmin.

Indeed, bhikkhus, these four persons exist in the world.

Whoever are unrestrained in sensual pleasures, not free from passion, enjoying sensual pleasures here; They go again and again to birth and aging, overcome by craving, they go with the current.

Therefore, a wise person established in mindfulness here, not engaging in sensual pleasures and unwholesome actions; Should abandon sensual pleasures even if it’s painful, They call such a person one who goes against the current.

Whoever has abandoned the five defilements, perfected in training and not subject to decline, Attained mastery of the mind and with composed faculties, They indeed are called a steady person.

One who has comprehended things subtle and gross, scattered them up, so they’re gone and exist no more; They indeed are a sage, having lived the spiritual life, and reached the world’s end, they are called ‘one who has gone beyond’."

The process of letting go of sensual pleasures during the training can perhaps be painful or with sorrow, and hence, the Buddha describes this as a person going against the current.

Related Teachings:

Sensuality is subject to time, of much stress (SN 1.20) - A deity tries to persuade a monk to first enjoy sensual pleasures and then go forth.

Intoxicated with Vanity of Youth, Health and Life (AN 3.31) - In this teaching, the Buddha recounts his delicate bringing up, and warns on the three intoxications: of youth, health, and life.

Allure and Drawbacks of Desiring Pleasure (Snp 4.1) - This verse succinctly captures the allure and the drawbacks of engaging in sense-desires.