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

SN 35.71 Six Fields of Contact (1st)

“Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu channaṁ phassāyatanānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti. Avusitaṁ tena brahmacariyaṁ, ārakā so imasmā dhammavinayā”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “etthāhaṁ, bhante, anassasaṁ. Ahañhi, bhante, channaṁ phassāyatanānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmī”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, bhikkhu, cakkhuṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, cakkhu ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati. Esevanto dukkhassa …pe…

jivhaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, jivhā ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati. Esevanto dukkhassa …pe… manaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, mano ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati. Esevanto dukkhassā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yo hi koci, bhikkhave, bhikkhu channaṁ phassāyatanānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāti.

“Mendicants, anyone who doesn’t truly understand the six fields of contact’s origin, disappearance, gratification, drawback, and escape

Avusitaṁ tena brahmacariyaṁ, ārakā so imasmā dhammavinayā”ti.

has not completed the spiritual journey and is far from this teaching and training.”

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha,

“etthāhaṁ, bhante, anassasaṁ.

“Here, sir, I’m discouraged.

Ahañhi, bhante, channaṁ phassāyatanānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ nappajānāmī”ti.

For I don’t truly understand the six fields of contact’s origin, disappearance, gratification, drawback, and escape.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, bhikkhu,

“What do you think, mendicant?

cakkhuṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

Do you regard the eye like this: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, cakkhu ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati.

“Good, mendicant! And regarding the eye, you will truly see clearly with right wisdom that: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Esevanto dukkhassa …pe…

Just this is the end of suffering.

jivhaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

Do you regard the ear … nose … tongue … body …

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, jivhā ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati.

Esevanto dukkhassa …pe…

manaṁ ‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

Do you regard the mind like this: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

“No, sir.”

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, mano ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati.

“Good, mendicant! And regarding the mind, you will truly see clearly with right wisdom that: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Esevanto dukkhassā”ti.

Just this is the end of suffering.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
View all discourses →
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
View all discourses →
Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
View all discourses →
Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026