Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra), Part Eight

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 forms are seen. Where the eye faculty contacts the form sense-object, eye consciousness arises, and forms can be seen. At the place where the ear faculty contacts sound, ear consciousness arises and sounds can be heard. At the place where the nose faculty contacts odors, nose consciousness arises, and fragrant smells, foul smells, and other mixed odors can be smelled. When the tongue faculty contacts flavors, tongue consciousness arises, and the various flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty—can be tasted. When the body faculty contacts tangibles, body consciousness arises, and tangibles are felt. For example, when exposed to sunlight, one feels warmth; when wind blows against the body and the body contacts the wind, body consciousness can feel the coolness. This also includes the ease, comfort, hunger, thirst, fatigue, soreness, and weariness felt by the body—all of these are tangible sense-objects. At the manas, where the manas contacts mental objects (dharmas), mind consciousness arises and can discern all mental-object realms.