English
2. Analysis of Sense Bases 1. Suttanta Exposition 154. Twelve sense bases: the eye-base, the form-base, the ear-base, the sound-base, the nose-base, the odor-base, the tongue-base, the taste-base, the body-base, the tangible-base, the mind-base, the mental object-base. The eye is impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Forms are impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. The ear is impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Sounds are impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. The nose is impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Odors are impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. The tongue is impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Tastes are impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. The body is impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Tangibles are impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. The mind is impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Mental objects are impermanent, suffering, non-self, subject to change. Suttanta Exposition. 2. Abhidhamma Exposition 155. Twelve sense bases: the eye-base, the ear-base, the nose-base, the tongue-base, the body-base, the mind-base, the form-base, the sound-base, the odor-base, the taste-base, the tangible-base, the mental object-base. 156. What is the eye-base there? That eye, the sensitive part derived from the four great elements, included in one's own being, invisible and with impact, by which eye, invisible and with impact, one saw or sees or will see or should see a visible form with impact. This is the eye, this is the eye-base, this is the eye-element, this is the eye-faculty, this is the world, this is the door, this is the ocean, this is the white, this is the field, this is the ground, this is the net, this is the leading, this is the near shore, this is the empty village. This is called "eye-base". 157. What is the ear-base there? That ear, derived from the four A sensitivity, dependent on the great elements, belonging to one's own being, invisible, and impingent, by which ear, invisible and impingent, one heard sound, invisible and impingent, or hears, or will hear, or might hear, This is the ear, this is the ear sense-base, this is the ear element, this is the ear faculty, this is the world, this is the door, this is the ocean, this is the white, this is the field, this is the ground, this is the near shore, this is the empty village. This is called "the ear sense-base." 158. What is the nose sense-base? That nose, a sensitivity, dependent on the four great elements, belonging to one's own being, invisible, and impingent, by which nose, invisible and impingent, one smelled odor, invisible and impingent, or smells, or will smell, or might smell, This is the nose, this is the nose sense-base, this is the nose element, this is the nose faculty, this is the world, this is the door, this is the ocean, this is the white, this is the field, this is the ground, this is the near shore, this is the empty village. This is called "the nose sense-base." 159. What is the tongue sense-base? That tongue, a sensitivity, dependent on the four great elements, belonging to one's own being, invisible, and impingent, by which tongue, invisible and impingent, one tasted flavor, invisible and impingent, or tastes, or will taste, or might taste, This is the tongue, this is the tongue sense-base, this is the tongue element, this is the tongue faculty, this is the world, this is the door, this is the ocean, this is the white, this is the field, this is the ground, this is the near shore, this is the empty village. This is called "the tongue sense-base." 160. What is the body sense-base? That body, a sensitivity, dependent on the four great elements, belonging to one's own being, invisible, and impingent, by which body, invisible and impingent, one touched tangibles, invisible and impingent, or touches, or will touch, or might touch, This is the body, this is the body sense-base, this is the body element, this is the body faculty, this is the world, this is the door, this is the ocean, this is the white, this is the field, This ground, this near shore, this empty village, this. This is called "body base." 161. What then is the mind base? One kind of mind base – conjoined with contact. Two kinds of mind base – there is with cause, there is without cause. Three kinds of mind base – there is wholesome, there is unwholesome, there is indeterminate. Four kinds of mind base – there is sense-sphere, there is form-sphere, there is formless-sphere, there is not-included. Five kinds of mind base – there is conjoined with faculty of pleasure, there is conjoined with faculty of pain, there is conjoined with faculty of joy, there is conjoined with faculty of displeasure, there is conjoined with faculty of equanimity. Six kinds of mind base – eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness. Thus, six kinds of mind base. Seven kinds of mind base – eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-element, mind-consciousness element. Thus, seven kinds of mind base. Eight kinds of mind base – eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness there is accompanied by pleasure, there is accompanied by pain, mind-element, mind-consciousness element. Thus, eight kinds of mind base. Nine kinds of mind base – eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-element, mind-consciousness element there is wholesome, there is unwholesome, there is indeterminate. Thus, nine kinds of mind base. Ten kinds of mind base – eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness there is accompanied by pleasure, there is accompanied by pain, mind-element, mind-consciousness element there is wholesome, there is unwholesome, there is indeterminate. Thus, ten kinds of mind base. One kind of mind base – conjoined with contact. The mind-base is of two kinds: there is that with cause, there is that without cause. The mind-base is of three kinds: there is that associated with pleasant feeling, there is that associated with painful feeling, there is that associated with neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling... and so on. Thus, the mind-base is of many kinds. This is called "the mind-base". 162. Therein, what is the form-base? Whatever form, dependent on the four great elements, with appearance and lustre, visible, with impingement: blue, yellow, red, white, black, crimson, green, green-colored, mango-sprout-colored, long, short, minute, coarse, round, perfectly round, square, hexagonal, octagonal, sixteen-sided, depressed, elevated, shadow, sunlight, light, darkness, cloud, mist, smoke, dust, the appearance and lustre of the moon's disk, the appearance and lustre of the sun's disk, the appearance and lustre of star-forms, the appearance and lustre of a mirror's surface, the appearance and lustre of gems, conches, pearls, lapis lazuli, the appearance and lustre of gold and silver; or whatever other form there is, dependent on the four great elements, with appearance and lustre, visible, with impingement; whatever form, visible, with impingement, one has seen, or sees, or will see, or should see, with the eye, which is invisible and with impingement— this is form, this is the form-base, this is the form-element. This is called "the form-base". 163. Therein, what is the sound-base? Whatever sound, dependent on the four great elements, invisible, with impingement: drum sound, tabor sound, conch sound, kettle-drum sound, song sound, instrumental music sound, clapping sound, hand sound, the sound of beings' cries, the sound of elements' collision, wind sound, water sound, human sound, non-human sound; or whatever other sound there is, dependent on the four great elements, invisible, with impingement; whatever sound, invisible, with impingement, by the ear, which is invisible with resistance, one heard, or hears, or will hear, or should hear. That is sound, this is the sound base, this is the sound element. This is called "the sound base". 164. What is the odour base there? Whatever odour, dependent on the four great elements, not visible, with resistance: root-odour, heartwood-odour, bark-odour, leaf-odour, flower-odour, fruit-odour, raw-odour, putrid-odour, pleasant-odour, unpleasant-odour; or whatever other odour exists, dependent on the four great elements, not visible, with resistance; whatever odour, not visible, with resistance, one smelled, or smells, or will smell, or should smell with the nose, not visible, with resistance. That is odour, this is the odour base, this is the odour element. This is called "the odour base". 165. What is the taste base there? Whatever taste, dependent on the four great elements, not visible, with resistance: root-taste, trunk-taste, bark-taste, leaf-taste, flower-taste, fruit-taste, sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, salty, spicy, alkaline, sticky, astringent, delicious, not delicious; or whatever other taste exists, dependent on the four great elements, not visible, with resistance; whatever taste, not visible, with resistance, one tasted, or tastes, or will taste, or should taste with the tongue, not visible, with resistance. That is taste, this is the taste base, this is the taste element. This is called "the taste base". 166. What is the touch base there? The earth element, the fire element, the wind element: hard, soft, smooth, rough, pleasant to touch, unpleasant to touch, heavy, light; whatever touch, not visible, with resistance, one touched, or touches, or will touch, or should touch with the body, not visible, with resistance. That is touch, this is the touch base, this is the touch element. This is called "the touch base". 167.