Diversity of Perceptions

“Mendicants, diversity of elements gives rise to diversity of perceptions. Diversity of perceptions gives rise to diversity of thoughts. Diversity of thoughts gives rise to diversity of desires. Diversity of desires gives rise to diversity of passions. Diversity of passions gives rise to diversity of searches.*Whereas the first pentad grew gradually by adding one factor at a time, here we add a whole series right away. And the conditional series varies to suit each case: the internal senses give rise to contact and feelings, whereas the external sense field gives rise ultimately to an actual search for that thing in the external world. And what is the diversity of elements? The sight element, the sound element, the smell element, the taste element, the touch element, and the idea element. This is called the diversity of elements.

“Dhātunānattaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati saññānānattaṁ, saññānānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati saṅkappanānattaṁ, saṅkappanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati chandanānattaṁ, chandanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati pariḷāhanānattaṁ, pariḷāhanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati pariyesanānānattaṁ. Katamañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ? Rūpadhātu …pe… dhammadhātu— idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ.

“Mendicants, diversity of elements gives rise to diversity of perceptions. Diversity of perceptions gives rise to diversity of thoughts. Diversity of thoughts gives rise to diversity of desires. Diversity of desires gives rise to diversity of passions. Diversity of passions gives rise to diversity of searches.*Whereas the first pentad grew gradually by adding one factor at a time, here we add a whole series right away. And the conditional series varies to suit each case: the internal senses give rise to contact and feelings, whereas the external sense field gives rise ultimately to an actual search for that thing in the external world.“Dhātunānattaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati saññānānattaṁ, saññānānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati saṅkappanānattaṁ, saṅkappanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati chandanānattaṁ, chandanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati pariḷāhanānattaṁ, pariḷāhanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati pariyesanānānattaṁ. And what is the diversity of elements? Katamañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ? The sight element, the sound element, the smell element, the taste element, the touch element, and the idea element. Rūpadhātu …pe… dhammadhātu—This is called the diversity of elements. idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ.

The sight element gives rise to the perception of sights. The perception of sights gives rise to thoughts about sights. Thoughts about sights give rise to the desire for sights. The desire for sights gives rise to the passion for sights. The passion for sights gives rise to searching for sights. …*In such sequences, saṅkappa occupies the same place as does vitakka in MN 18:16.1, and so must be “thought” rather than “intention”. When you see something arousing, you perceive it as such, and start thinking about it. Desire arises, which then gives rise to the search, and it is only then that the intention to get something comes in. The idea element gives rise to the perception of ideas. The perception of ideas gives rise to thoughts about ideas. Thoughts about ideas give rise to the desire for ideas. The desire for ideas gives rise to the passion for ideas. The passion for ideas gives rise to searching for ideas.

Rūpadhātuṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati rūpasaññā, rūpasaññaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpasaṅkappo, rūpasaṅkappaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpacchando, rūpacchandaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpapariḷāho, rūpapariḷāhaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpapariyesanā …pe… dhammadhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammasaññā, dhammasaññaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammasaṅkappo, dhammasaṅkappaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammacchando, dhammacchandaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammapariḷāho, dhammapariḷāhaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammapariyesanā.

The sight element gives rise to the perception of sights. The perception of sights gives rise to thoughts about sights. Thoughts about sights give rise to the desire for sights. The desire for sights gives rise to the passion for sights. The passion for sights gives rise to searching for sights. …*In such sequences, saṅkappa occupies the same place as does vitakka in MN 18:16.1, and so must be “thought” rather than “intention”. When you see something arousing, you perceive it as such, and start thinking about it. Desire arises, which then gives rise to the search, and it is only then that the intention to get something comes in.Rūpadhātuṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati rūpasaññā, rūpasaññaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpasaṅkappo, rūpasaṅkappaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpacchando, rūpacchandaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpapariḷāho, rūpapariḷāhaṁ paṭicca uppajjati rūpapariyesanā …pe… The idea element gives rise to the perception of ideas. The perception of ideas gives rise to thoughts about ideas. Thoughts about ideas give rise to the desire for ideas. The desire for ideas gives rise to the passion for ideas. The passion for ideas gives rise to searching for ideas. dhammadhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammasaññā, dhammasaññaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammasaṅkappo, dhammasaṅkappaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammacchando, dhammacchandaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammapariḷāho, dhammapariḷāhaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhammapariyesanā.