Diversity of Contacts

“Mendicants, diversity of elements gives rise to diversity of contacts.*The use of the word paṭicca here connects back to dependent origination. Narrowing in on the particulars of sense experience, the text shows that particular factors give rise to other correlated factors, i.e. “this gives rise to this” (SN 12.37:2.2). And what is the diversity of elements? The eye element, ear element, nose element, tongue element, body element, and mind element. This is called the diversity of elements.

“Dhātunānattaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ. Katamañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ? Cakkhudhātu sotadhātu ghānadhātu jivhādhātu kāyadhātu manodhātu— idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ.

“Mendicants, diversity of elements gives rise to diversity of contacts.*The use of the word paṭicca here connects back to dependent origination. Narrowing in on the particulars of sense experience, the text shows that particular factors give rise to other correlated factors, i.e. “this gives rise to this” (SN 12.37:2.2).“Dhātunānattaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ. And what is the diversity of elements? Katamañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ? The eye element, ear element, nose element, tongue element, body element, and mind element. Cakkhudhātu sotadhātu ghānadhātu jivhādhātu kāyadhātu manodhātu—This is called the diversity of elements. idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ.

And how does diversity of elements give rise to diversity of contacts? The eye element gives rise to eye contact. The ear element … nose … tongue … body … The mind element gives rise to mind contact. That’s how diversity of elements gives rise to diversity of contacts.”

Kathañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ? Cakkhudhātuṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati cakkhusamphasso. Sotadhātuṁ paṭicca … ghānadhātuṁ paṭicca … jivhādhātuṁ paṭicca … kāyadhātuṁ paṭicca … manodhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati manosamphasso. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattan”ti.

And how does diversity of elements give rise to diversity of contacts? Kathañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ? The eye element gives rise to eye contact. Cakkhudhātuṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati cakkhusamphasso. The ear element … Sotadhātuṁ paṭicca … nose … ghānadhātuṁ paṭicca … tongue … jivhādhātuṁ paṭicca … body … kāyadhātuṁ paṭicca … The mind element gives rise to mind contact. manodhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati manosamphasso. That’s how diversity of elements gives rise to diversity of contacts.” Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattan”ti.