The Buddha teaches on the internal and external sense bases regarding the origin of the world, analyzing the eye, sights, consciousness, contact, and feeling for insight and release.

SN 35.107 The Origin of the World

“Lokassa, bhikkhave, samudayañca atthaṅgamañca desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, lokassa samudayo? Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā; taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ; upādānapaccayā bhavo; bhavapaccayā jāti; jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa samudayo …pe… jivhañca paṭicca rase ca uppajjati jivhāviññāṇaṁ …pe…

manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā; taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ; upādānapaccayā bhavo; bhavapaccayā jāti; jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa samudayo.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, lokassa atthaṅgamo? Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā. Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho; upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho; bhavanirodhā jātinirodho; jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa atthaṅgamo …pe… jivhañca paṭicca rase ca uppajjati …pe…

manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso. Phassapaccayā vedanā; vedanāpaccayā taṇhā. Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho; upādānanirodhā …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa atthaṅgamo”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Lokassa, bhikkhave, samudayañca atthaṅgamañca desessāmi.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the origin and disappearance of the world.

Taṁ suṇātha.

Listen …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, lokassa samudayo?

And what, mendicants, is the origin of the world?

Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā;

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ;

Craving is a requirement for grasping.

upādānapaccayā bhavo;

Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.

bhavapaccayā jāti;

Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth.

jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti.

Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa samudayo …pe…

This is the origin of the world. …

jivhañca paṭicca rase ca uppajjati jivhāviññāṇaṁ …pe…

manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Mind consciousness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā;

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ;

Craving is a requirement for grasping.

upādānapaccayā bhavo;

Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.

bhavapaccayā jāti;

Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth.

jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti.

Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa samudayo.

This is the origin of the world.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, lokassa atthaṅgamo?

And what is the ending of the world?

Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā.

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho;

When that craving fades away and ceases no residue left behind, grasping ceases.

upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho;

When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases.

bhavanirodhā jātinirodho;

When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases.

jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti.

When rebirth ceases, old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress cease.

Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa atthaṅgamo …pe…

This is the ending of the world. …

jivhañca paṭicca rase ca uppajjati …pe…

manañca paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ. Tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso.

Mind consciousness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. The meeting of the three is contact.

Phassapaccayā vedanā;

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

vedanāpaccayā taṇhā.

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

Tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodhā upādānanirodho;

When that craving fades away and ceases no residue left behind, grasping ceases.

upādānanirodhā …pe…

When grasping ceases …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, lokassa atthaṅgamo”ti.

This is the ending of the world.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Lamentation

Lamentation

The verbal and bodily expression of grief—crying, wailing, and mourning—that arises from loss or separation from what is held dear. It gives voice to sorrow and can deepen the mind's entanglement with pain.

Also known as: crying, wailing, mourning
Pāli: parideva
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Sorrow

Sorrow

Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.

Also known as: grief, sadness
Pāli: soka, socati
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026