The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding the simile of hands and feet (1st), guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.236 The Simile of Hands and Feet (1st)

“Hatthesu, bhikkhave, sati ādānanikkhepanaṁ paññāyati; pādesu sati abhikkamapaṭikkamo paññāyati; pabbesu sati samiñjanapasāraṇaṁ paññāyati; kucchismiṁ sati jighacchā pipāsā paññāyati.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ sati cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe… jivhāya sati jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe… manasmiṁ sati manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe….

Hatthesu, bhikkhave, asati ādānanikkhepanaṁ na paññāyati; pādesu asati abhikkamapaṭikkamo na paññāyati; pabbesu asati samiñjanapasāraṇaṁ na paññāyati; kucchismiṁ asati jighacchā pipāsā na paññāyati.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ asati cakkhusamphassapaccayā nuppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe… jivhāya asati jivhāsamphassapaccayā nuppajjati …pe… manasmiṁ asati manosamphassapaccayā nuppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Hatthesu, bhikkhave, sati ādānanikkhepanaṁ paññāyati;

“Mendicants, when there are hands, picking up and putting down are found.

pādesu sati abhikkamapaṭikkamo paññāyati;

When there are feet, coming and going are found.

pabbesu sati samiñjanapasāraṇaṁ paññāyati;

When there are joints, contracting and extending are found.

kucchismiṁ sati jighacchā pipāsā paññāyati.

When there’s a belly, hunger and thirst are found.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ sati cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe…

In the same way, when there’s an eye, pleasure and pain arise internally conditioned by eye contact.

jivhāya sati jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe…

When there’s an ear … nose … tongue … body …

manasmiṁ sati manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe….

mind, pleasure and pain arise internally conditioned by mind contact.

Hatthesu, bhikkhave, asati ādānanikkhepanaṁ na paññāyati;

When there are no hands, picking up and putting down aren’t found.

pādesu asati abhikkamapaṭikkamo na paññāyati;

When there are no feet, coming and going aren’t found.

pabbesu asati samiñjanapasāraṇaṁ na paññāyati;

When there are no joints, contracting and extending aren’t found.

kucchismiṁ asati jighacchā pipāsā na paññāyati.

When there’s no belly, hunger and thirst aren’t found.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ asati cakkhusamphassapaccayā nuppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe…

In the same way, when there’s no eye, pleasure and pain don’t arise internally conditioned by eye contact.

jivhāya asati jivhāsamphassapaccayā nuppajjati …pe…

When there’s no ear … nose … tongue … body …

manasmiṁ asati manosamphassapaccayā nuppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”ti.

mind, pleasure and pain don’t arise internally conditioned by mind contact.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

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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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