Perception

Khuddaka Nikāya

3. Vicāravagga

Viññāṇalakkhaṇapañha

Minor Collection

3. Examination

Perception

Khuddaka Nikāya

3. Vicāravagga

Viññāṇalakkhaṇapañha

Perception

Ruta suttaMil 3.3.12Sutta Piṭaka › Khuddaka Nikāya › Milindapañha › 3. Milindapañha › 3. Vicāravagga › Viññāṇalakkhaṇapañha

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PTS cs 12 ‘What, Nāgasena, is the distinguishing characteristic of perception (Viññāṇa)?’

‘Recognition, great king.’

‘Give me an illustration.’

‘It is like the case of the guardian of a city who, when seated at the cross roads in the middle of the city, could see a man coming from the East, or the South, or the West, or the North. In the same way, O king, he knows an object which he sees with his eye, or a sound which he hears with his ear, or an odour which he smells by his nose, or a taste which he experiences with his tongue, or a touchable thing which he touches with his body, or a quality that he recognises by his mind. Thus is it, great king, that knowing is the mark of perception.’

‘Very good, Nāgasena!’

12. Viññāṇalakkhaṇapañha

“Bhante nāgasena, kiṁlakkhaṇaṁ viññāṇan”ti? “Vijānanalakkhaṇaṁ, mahārāja, viññāṇan”ti.

“Bhante nāgasena, kiṁlakkhaṇaṁ viññāṇan”ti?

“Vijānanalakkhaṇaṁ, mahārāja, viññāṇan”ti.

“Bhante nāgasena, kiṁlakkhaṇaṁ viññāṇan”ti? “Vijānanalakkhaṇaṁ, mahārāja, viññāṇan”ti.

“Opammaṁ karohī”ti. “Yathā, mahārāja, nagaraguttiko majjhe nagarasiṅghāṭake nisinno passeyya puratthimadisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ, passeyya dakkhiṇadisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ, passeyya pacchimadisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ, passeyya uttaradisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ; evameva kho, mahārāja, yañca puriso cakkhunā rūpaṁ passati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti. Yañca sotena saddaṁ suṇāti, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti. Yañca ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti. Yañca jivhāya rasaṁ sāyati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti. Yañca kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti, yañca manasā dhammaṁ vijānāti, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, vijānanalakkhaṇaṁ viññāṇan”ti.

“Opammaṁ karohī”ti.

“Yathā, mahārāja, nagaraguttiko majjhe nagarasiṅghāṭake nisinno passeyya puratthimadisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ, passeyya dakkhiṇadisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ, passeyya pacchimadisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ, passeyya uttaradisato purisaṁ āgacchantaṁ;

evameva kho, mahārāja, yañca puriso cakkhunā rūpaṁ passati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti.

Yañca sotena saddaṁ suṇāti, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti.

Yañca ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti.

Yañca jivhāya rasaṁ sāyati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti.

Yañca kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusati, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti, yañca manasā dhammaṁ vijānāti, taṁ viññāṇena vijānāti.

Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, vijānanalakkhaṇaṁ viññāṇan”ti.

“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.

Viññāṇalakkhaṇapañho dvādasamo.