The Buddha teaches on the six sense bases regarding six fields of contact (2nd), guiding disciples toward discernment of sense experience and release from clinging.

SN 35.72 Six Fields of Contact (2nd)

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

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, bhikkhu, cakkhuṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, cakkhu ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati. Evaṁ te etaṁ paṭhamaṁ phassāyatanaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati āyatiṁ apunabbhavāya …pe….

“Jivhaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, jivhā ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati. Evaṁ te etaṁ catutthaṁ phassāyatanaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati āyatiṁ apunabbhavāya …pe….

“Manaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, mano ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati. Evaṁ te etaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ phassāyatanaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati āyatiṁ apunabbhavāyā”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

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 panassasaṁ.

“Here, sir, I’m discouraged, really 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 ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

Do you regard the eye like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self’?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, 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.’

Evaṁ te etaṁ paṭhamaṁ phassāyatanaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati āyatiṁ apunabbhavāya …pe….

In this way you will give up the first field of contact, so that there are no more future lives.

“Jivhaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

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

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Sādhu, bhikkhu, ettha ca te, bhikkhu, jivhā ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭhaṁ bhavissati. Evaṁ te etaṁ catutthaṁ phassāyatanaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati āyatiṁ apunabbhavāya …pe….

“Manaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti samanupassasī”ti?

Do you regard the mind like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self’?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, 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.’

Evaṁ te etaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ phassāyatanaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati āyatiṁ apunabbhavāyā”ti.

In this way you will give up the sixth field of contact, so that there are no more future lives.”

Dasamaṁ.

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
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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
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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
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Last updated on July 27, 2026