The Skandha-Āyatana-Dhātu Sūtra, Volume I

(2) Original text: That name-and-form gives rise to the six sense-entrances of the body. Eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. This is called the six sense-entrances received by the body. That six sense-entrances give rise to the six contacts of the body with mental inclination. Eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. This is called the six contacts of the body with mental inclination. That contact with mental inclination gives rise to the six sensations of the body. Eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. This is called the six sensations of the body. That sensation gives rise to the six cravings of the body. Craving for forms, craving for sounds, craving for scents, craving for tastes, craving for touches, craving for mental objects. This is called the six cravings of the body. That craving gives rise to the four kinds of clinging. First, clinging to sensual desires. Second, clinging to views. Third, clinging to rites and vows. Fourth, clinging to doctrines of self. This is called the four kinds of clinging.

Explanation: Due to the condition of name-and-form, the six entrances in the physical body arise: eye-entrance, ear-entrance, nose-entrance, tongue-entrance, body-entrance, and mind-entrance. This is called the six sense-entrances received by the body. Due to the condition of the six entrances, contact arises: eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, and mind-contact. This is called the six contacts of the body with mental inclination. Due to the condition of the six contacts, the six sensations arise: eye-consciousness sensation, ear-consciousness sensation, nose-consciousness sensation, tongue-consciousness sensation, body-consciousness sensation, and mind-consciousness sensation. This is called the six sensations. Sensation, due to conditions, gives rise to the six cravings: craving for forms, craving for sounds, craving for scents, craving for tastes, craving for touches, craving for mental objects. This is called the six cravings. Due to the condition of craving, the four kinds of clinging arise: clinging to sensual desires, clinging to views, clinging to rites and ascetic practices, clinging to doctrines of self. These are named the four kinds of clinging.

Why is the contact of the six sense faculties with the six sense objects called "contact with mental inclination"? Because this contact is determined by the mind faculty (manas). The mind faculty has this determination because it possesses thoughts, hopes, desires, and inclinations. Otherwise, it would not decide to contact the six sense objects. Without contact, there would be no subsequent sensation, perception, or mental formations. Contact is a crucial step; its purpose is to discern, to discriminate, to engage in activity, to know. This indicates that the mind faculty is not tranquil; it is grasping, seeking to continue the process of phenomena. Because the mind faculty has these mental activities, it decides upon contact. Thus, the six sense faculties contact the six sense objects, which precisely manifests the mind faculty's role as the sovereign consciousness. When sense faculty and sense object contact, consciousness arises. After the six consciousnesses are born, they discern and discriminate the six sense objects, subsequently knowing the subtle aspects of the six sense objects. Once the six consciousnesses know the six sense objects, the mind faculty accordingly knows the subtle aspects of the six sense objects, and the purpose is gradually realized.

From the link of contact, one can discern whether a person has cultivation, whether their mind is tranquil, whether they are introverted or externally grasping, whether they have desires or are free from desires, and whether they possess tranquility and meditative concentration. After contact arises, many distinctions and disputes (right and wrong) are born. Without contact, there are no distinctions and disputes; the mind is tranquil, and regarding the six sense objects, there is liberation. Conversely, there is bondage.

Original text: That clinging gives rise to existence, which is the three realms of existence. First, the desire realm. Second, the form realm. Third, the formless realm. This is called the three realms of existence. That existence gives rise to birth, which is the upper five aggregates, six sense faculties, six sense objects. Having already come into being, as if born, assembled and abiding, falling into differentiation of faculties. Having entered, one obtains existence. This is called birth and death. What is it named? It is that which belongs to every person. Having abided in the abode, having abided, decayed, having passed through, the time of death is when the life faculty and six sense faculties have become obstructed; this is death. The preceding stage is old age, the latter stage is death. Therefore it is called old age and death.

Explanation: Due to the condition of clinging, existence arises, which is existence in the three realms: existence in the desire realm, existence in the form realm, and existence in the formless realm. This is called the three realms of existence. Due to the condition of existence, the living being is born, which is the five aggregates, six sense faculties, six sense objects, and six consciousnesses mentioned above. Having obtained existence in the three realms, and having obtained the living being, after the living being aggregates, the six sense faculties become complete, and one falls into the three realms of existence. This is called birth and death. Why is it called birth and death? Birth and death belong to every person. The process of the birth, change, and extinction of the five-aggregate body is called birth and death. After birth, the period when life is sustained is called abiding. After abiding, decay is called old age. When life has already ended, the six sense faculties are obstructed and can no longer function; this is called death. First there is old age, then death; therefore it is called old age and death.