The Buddha teaches Rāhula to contemplate eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind contact as impermanent, suffering, and not-self—not fit to be regarded as “mine, I am this, my self”—until disenchantment, fading of desire, and liberation arise.

SN 18.4 Contact

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula, cakkhusamphasso nicco anicco vā”ti?

“Anicco, bhante”

“sotasamphasso …pe… ghānasamphassojivhāsamphassokāyasamphassomanosamphasso nicco anicco vā”ti?

“Anicco, bhante”

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusamphassasmimpi nibbindati …pe… sotasamphassasmimpi nibbindatighānasamphassasmimpi nibbindatijivhāsamphassasmimpi nibbindatikāyasamphassasmimpi nibbindatimanosamphassasmimpi nibbindati; nibbindaṁ virajjati …pe… pajānātī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula,

“What do you think, Rāhula?

cakkhusamphasso nicco anicco vā”ti?

Is eye contact permanent or impermanent?”

“Anicco, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“sotasamphasso …pe…

“… ear contact …

ghānasamphasso

nose contact …

jivhāsamphasso

tongue contact …

kāyasamphasso

body contact …

manosamphasso nicco anicco vā”ti?

Is mind contact permanent or impermanent?”

“Anicco, bhante”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako cakkhusamphassasmimpi nibbindati …pe… sotasamphassasmimpi nibbindatighānasamphassasmimpi nibbindatijivhāsamphassasmimpi nibbindatikāyasamphassasmimpi nibbindatimanosamphassasmimpi nibbindati;

“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with eye contact, ear contact, nose contact, tongue contact, body contact, and mind contact.

nibbindaṁ virajjati …pe…

Being disillusioned, desire fades away. …”

pajānātī”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Last updated on July 27, 2026