Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamasūtra) (8)

What are the six contact bases (ṣaḍ-āyatana)?

Original text: 云何六触处。谓眼触处。而见于色。若耳触处。得闻其声。若鼻触处。能嗅于香。若舌触处。悉尝于味。若身触处。亲觉其触。若意触处。则知于法。

Explanation: The World-Honored One said: What are the six contact bases? They are: the eye contact base, whereby form is seen—where the eye faculty and the form sense-object make contact, eye consciousness arises, and form can be seen; where the ear faculty, at its base, contacts sound sense-objects, ear consciousness arises and sounds are heard; where the nose faculty contacts scent sense-objects, nose consciousness arises, and fragrant smells, foul smells, and other mixed odors are smelled; where the tongue faculty contacts taste sense-objects, tongue consciousness arises, tasting the various flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty; where the body faculty contacts tangible sense-objects, body consciousness arises, and tangibles are felt. For example, when one comes into contact with sunlight, one feels warmth; when wind blows against the body and the body contacts the wind, body consciousness can feel the coolness; including the tranquility, comfort, hunger, thirst, fatigue, soreness, and weariness felt by the body—all of these are also tangible sense-objects. At the base of the manas, the manas contacts the mental sense-objects, mind consciousness arises, and it can discern all realms of mental sense-objects.