Saṃyukta Āgama (294), Part 2

(2) Original text: If the intelligent, covered by ignorance and bound by the craving-bondage, obtain this aggregate of consciousness, then, internally the aggregate of consciousness and externally name-and-form — these two, conditioned by contact, give rise to the six sense-spheres. Being contacted through the six sense-spheres, the wise give rise to feelings of pleasure and pain. Various [feelings] arise due to this. What are the six? They are: the sense-sphere of eye-contact, the sense-sphere of ear-contact, the sense-sphere of nose-contact, the sense-sphere of tongue-contact, the sense-sphere of body-contact, and the sense-sphere of mind-contact. For the foolish and the intelligent alike, who both cultivate the holy life under me, what difference is there in this regard? The bhikkhus said to the Buddha: "Venerable Sir, you are the root of the Dharma, the eye of the Dharma, the foundation of the Dharma. Excellent, Venerable Sir! Please expound this. Having heard it, we the bhikkhus will accept and practice it faithfully."

Explanation: If intelligent and wise individuals are covered and obscured by ignorance, and the craving-bondage binds this aggregate of six consciousnesses, then internally there is the aggregate of consciousness and externally there are the five aggregates as name-and-form. When these two combine through contact, the six sense-spheres of contact arise. Because there is contact at these six bases, intelligent and wise individuals give rise to feelings of pleasure and pain. The condition of contact at the six sense-spheres gives rise to various feelings and sensations. What are the six sense-spheres of contact? They are the sense-sphere of eye-contact, the sense-sphere of ear-contact, the sense-sphere of nose-contact, the sense-sphere of tongue-contact, the sense-sphere of body-contact, and the sense-sphere of mind-contact. Both foolish ordinary people and intelligent wise individuals experience various feelings like pleasure and pain at the six sense-spheres of contact. They both cultivate the holy life under me. What difference is there between them? The bhikkhus said to the Buddha: "Venerable Sir, you are the root of the Dharma, the eye of the Dharma, and the foundation of the Dharma. We beseech you, Venerable Sir, to expound the meaning of this. After hearing it, the bhikkhus should accept and practice it faithfully."

Original text: Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Listen carefully, attend well, I will explain it to you. Bhikkhus, that foolish, unlearned ordinary person, covered by ignorance and bound by the craving-bondage, obtains this aggregate of consciousness. He does not abandon ignorance, nor exhaust the craving-bondage. With the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn again and assumes another body. Because he assumes another body, he is not freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, dejection, and despair. Why is that? Because this foolish ordinary person has not cultivated the holy life from the outset for the purpose of rightly extinguishing suffering, for making an end to suffering. Therefore, with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn again and assumes another body. Because he assumes another body, he is not freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, dejection, and despair."

Explanation: The Blessed One told the bhikkhus: "Listen carefully and reflect well, I will now explain it to you. Bhikkhus, foolish, unlearned ordinary people, because they are covered and obscured by ignorance, are bound by the craving-bondage and give rise to this aggregate of six consciousnesses. Since they do not abandon the defilement of ignorance, the craving-bondage cannot be exhausted. When the body breaks up and life ends, they will again be reborn and assume the aggregate of six consciousnesses. Since foolish, unlearned ordinary people will again assume the aggregate of consciousness, they cannot be liberated from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, dejection, and despair. Why is this? Because foolish, unlearned ordinary people fundamentally do not cultivate the pure holy life, nor do they turn towards rightly extinguishing suffering and reaching the ultimate end of suffering. Therefore, when the body breaks up and life ends, they will again assume another body. Because they assume another body again, upon the breakup of the body and the end of life, they cannot attain liberation from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, dejection, and despair."