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

SN 35.99 Immersion

“Samādhiṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha. Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Kiñca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti?

‘Cakkhu aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘rūpā aniccā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘cakkhuviññāṇaṁ aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘cakkhusamphasso anicco’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. ‘Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe…

‘mano aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. Dhammāmanoviññāṇaṁmanosamphasso‘yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

Samādhiṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha. Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānātī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Samādhiṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha.

“Mendicants, develop immersion.

Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

A mendicant who has immersion truly understands.

Kiñca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti?

What do they truly understand?

‘Cakkhu aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti;

They truly understand that the eye is impermanent.

‘rūpā aniccā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti;

They truly understand that sights …

‘cakkhuviññāṇaṁ aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti;

eye consciousness …

‘cakkhusamphasso anicco’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

eye contact …

‘Yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe…

the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on eye contact is impermanent. …

‘mano aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

They truly understand that the mind is impermanent.

Dhammā

They truly understand that ideas …

manoviññāṇaṁ

mind consciousness …

manosamphasso

mind contact …

‘yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ tampi aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on mind contact is impermanent.

Samādhiṁ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha.

Mendicants, develop immersion.

Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathābhūtaṁ pajānātī”ti.

A mendicant who has immersion truly understands.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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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