Saṃyutta Nikaya
Nidāna Vagga
14. [3.] Dhātu-Saṃyuttaṃ
I. Nānattavaggo Pathamo
i. Ajjhatta-pañcakaṃ
Chapter XIV
Connected Discourses on Elements
1 Diversity (External Pentad)
Sutta 10
Phassa (2)
Diversity of External Contacts (2)
Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Copyright Wisdom Publications.
Reproduced with permission.
[1][pts][olds] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.[ed1]
"Bhikkhus, it is in dependence on the diversity of elements that there arises the diversity of perceptions;
in dependence on the diversity of perceptions that there arises the diversity of intentions;
in dependence on the diversity of intentions that there arises the diversity of contacts;
in dependence on the diversity of contacts that there arises the diversity of feelings;
in dependence on the diversity of feelings that there arises the diversity of desires;
in dependence on the diversity of desires that there arises the diversity of passions;
in dependence on the diversity of passions that there arises the diversity of quests;
in dependence on the diversity of quests that there arises the diversity of gains.
The diversity of quests does not arise in dependence on the diversity of gains;
the diversity of passions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of quests;
the diversity of desires does not arise in dependence on the diversity of passions;
the diversity of feelings does not arise in dependence on the diversity of desires;
the diversity of contacts does not arise in dependence on the diversity of feelings;
the diversity of intentions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of contacts;
the diversity of perceptions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of intentions;
the diversity of elements does not arise in dependence on the diversity of perceptions.
"And what, bhikkhus, is the diversity of elements?
The form element;
the sound element;
the odour element;
the taste element;
the tactile-object element;[ed2]
the mental-phenomena element.
This, bhikkhus, is called the diversity in elements."
"And how is it, bhikkhus, that in dependence on the diversity of elements there arises the diversity of perceptions;
in dependence on the diversity of perceptions there arises the diversity of intentions;
in dependence on the diversity of intentions there arises the diversity of contacts;
in dependence on the diversity of contacts there arises the diversity of feelings;
in dependence on the diversity of feelings there arises the diversity of desires;
in dependence on the diversity of desires there arises the diversity of passions;
in dependence on the diversity of passions there arises the diversity of quests
in dependence on the diversity of quests there arises the diversity of gains?
That the diversity of quests does not arise in dependence on the diversity of gains;
that the diversity of passions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of quests;
that the diversity of desires does not arise in dependence on the diversity of passions;
that the diversity of feelings does not arise in dependence on the diversity of desires;
that the diversity of contacts does not arise in dependence on the diversity of feelings;
that the diversity of intentions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of contacts;
that the diversity of perceptions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of intentions;
that the diversity of elements does not arise in dependence on the diversity of perceptions?
"In dependence on the form element there arises perception of form;
in dependence on perception of form there arises intention regarding form;
in dependence on intention regarding form there arises contact with form;
in dependence on contact with form there arises feeling born of contact with form;
in dependence on feeling born of contact with form there arises desire for form;
in dependence on desire for form there arises passion for form;
in dependence on passion for form there arises the quest for form;
in dependence on quest for form there arises gain of form.
The quest for form does not arise in dependence on the gain of form;
passion for form does not arise in dependence on the quest for form;
desire for form does not arise in dependence on passion for form;
feeling born of contact with form does not arise in dependence on desire for form;
contact with form does not arise in dependence on feeling born of contact with form;
intention regarding form does not arise in dependence on contact with form;
perception of form does not arise in dependence on intention regarding form;
the form element does not arise in dependence on perception of form.
"In dependence on the sound element there arises perception of sound;
in dependence on perception of sound there arises intention regarding sound;
in dependence on intention regarding sound there arises contact with sound;
in dependence on contact with sound there arises feeling born of contact with sound;
in dependence on feeling born of contact with sound there arises desire for sound;
in dependence on desire for sound there arises passion for sound;
in dependence on passion for sound there arises the quest for sound;
in dependence on quest for sound there arises gain of sound.
The quest for sound does not arise in dependence on the gain of sound;
passion for sound does not arise in dependence on the quest for sound;
desire for sound does not arise in dependence on passion for sound;
feeling born of contact with sound does not arise in dependence on desire for sound;
contact with sound does not arise in dependence on feeling born of contact with sound;
intention regarding sound does not arise in dependence on contact with sound;
perception of sound does not arise in dependence on intention regarding sound;
the sound element does not arise in dependence on perception of sound.
"In dependence on the odour element there arises perception of odour;
in dependence on perception of odour there arises intention regarding odour;
in dependence on intention regarding odour there arises contact with odour;
in dependence on contact with odour there arises feeling born of contact with odour;
in dependence on feeling born of contact with odour there arises desire for odour;
in dependence on desire for odour there arises passion for odour;
in dependence on passion for odour there arises the quest for odour;
in dependence on quest for odour there arises gain of odour.
The quest for odour does not arise in dependence on the gain of odour;
passion for odour does not arise in dependence on the quest for odour;
desire for odour does not arise in dependence on passion for odour;
feeling born of contact with odour does not arise in dependence on desire for odour;
contact with odour does not arise in dependence on feeling born of contact with odour;
intention regarding odour does not arise in dependence on contact with odour;
perception of odour does not arise in dependence on intention regarding odour;
the odour element does not arise in dependence on perception of odour.
"In dependence on the taste element there arises perception of taste;
in dependence on perception of taste there arises intention regarding taste;
in dependence on intention regarding taste there arises contact with taste;
in dependence on contact with taste there arises feeling born of contact with taste;
in dependence on feeling born of contact with taste there arises desire for taste;
in dependence on desire for taste there arises passion for taste;
in dependence on passion for taste there arises the quest for taste;
in dependence on quest for taste there arises gain of taste.
The quest for taste does not arise in dependence on the gain of taste;
passion for taste does not arise in dependence on the quest for taste;
desire for taste does not arise in dependence on passion for taste;
feeling born of contact with taste does not arise in dependence on desire for taste;
contact with taste does not arise in dependence on feeling born of contact with taste;
intention regarding taste does not arise in dependence on contact with taste;
perception of taste does not arise in dependence on intention regarding taste;
the taste element does not arise in dependence on perception of taste.
"In dependence on the tactile-object element there arises perception of tactile-objects;
in dependence on perception of tactile-objects there arises intention regarding tactile-objects;
in dependence on intention regarding tactile-objects there arises contact with tactile-objects;
in dependence on contact with tactile-objects there arises feeling born of contact with tactile-objects;
in dependence on feeling born of contact with tactile-objects there arises desire for tactile-objects;
in dependence on desire for tactile-objects there arises passion for tactile-objects;
in dependence on passion for tactile-objects there arises the quest for tactile-objects;
in dependence on quest for tactile-objects there arises gain of tactile-objects.
The quest for tactile-objects does not arise in dependence on the gain of tactile-objects;
passion for tactile-objects does not arise in dependence on the quest for tactile-objects;
desire for tactile-objects does not arise in dependence on passion for tactile-objects;
feeling born of contact with tactile-objects does not arise in dependence on desire for tactile-objects;
contact with tactile-objects does not arise in dependence on feeling born of contact with tactile-objects;
intention regarding tactile-objects does not arise in dependence on contact with tactile-objects;
perception of tactile-objects does not arise in dependence on intention regarding tactile-objects;
the tactile-object element does not arise in dependence on perception of tactile-objects.
"In dependence on the mental-phenomena element there arises perception of mental-phenomena;
in dependence on perception of mental-phenomena there arises intention regarding mental-phenomena;
in dependence on intention regarding mental-phenomena there arises contact with mental-phenomena;
in dependence on contact with mental-phenomena there arises feeling born of contact with mental-phenomena;
in dependence on feeling born of contact with mental-phenomena there arises desire for mental-phenomena;
in dependence on desire for mental-phenomena there arises passion for mental-phenomena;
in dependence on passion for mental-phenomena there arises the quest for mental-phenomena;
in dependence on quest for mental-phenomena there arises gain of mental-phenomena.
The quest for mental-phenomena does not arise in dependence on the gain of mental-phenomena;
passion for mental-phenomena does not arise in dependence on the quest for mental-phenomena;
desire for mental-phenomena does not arise in dependence on passion for mental-phenomena;
feeling born of contact with mental-phenomena does not arise in dependence on desire for mental-phenomena;
contact with mental-phenomena does not arise in dependence on feeling born of contact with mental-phenomena;
intention regarding mental-phenomena does not arise in dependence on contact with mental-phenomena;
perception of mental-phenomena does not arise in dependence on intention regarding mental-phenomena;
the mental-phenomena element does not arise in dependence on perception of mental-phenomena.
It is in this way, bhikkhus, that in dependence on the diversity of elements there arises the diversity of perceptions;
in dependence on the diversity of perceptions there arises the diversity of intentions;
in dependence on the diversity of intentions there arises the diversity of contacts;
in dependence on the diversity of contacts there arises the diversity of feelings;
in dependence on the diversity of feelings there arises the diversity of desires;
in dependence on the diversity of desires there arises the diversity of passions;
in dependence on the diversity of passions there arises the diversity of quests;
in dependence on the diversity of quests there arises the diversity of gains.
That the diversity of quests does not arise in dependence on the diversity of gains;
that the diversity of passions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of quests;
that the diversity of desires does not arise in dependence on the diversity of passions;
that the diversity of feelings does not arise in dependence on the diversity of desires;
that the diversity of contacts does not arise in dependence on the diversity of feelings;
that the diversity of intentions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of contacts;
that the diversity of perceptions does not arise in dependence on the diversity of intentions;
that the diversity of elements does not arise in dependence on the diversity of perceptions.
[ed1] Abbreviated Nidana expanded throughout this samyutta.
[ed2] Bhk. Bodhi includes italicized items by reference only.