Dismantling contemporary debates on the origin of experience, the Buddha and Sāriputta declare that pleasure and pain are dependently arisen from contact. The text maps how intentions regarding the body, speech, and mind actively generate bodily, verbal, and mental constructs under the condition of ignorance.

SN 12.25  Bhūmija sutta - With Bhūmija

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthi.

Atha kho āyasmā bhūmijo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā sāriputtena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā bhūmijo āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

Then the venerable Bhūmija, having emerged from seclusion in the evening time, approached venerable Sāriputta. Having approached, he exchanged greetings with the venerable Sāriputta. After the exchange of courteous and polite conversation, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the venerable Bhūmija said this to venerable Sāriputta:

“Santāvuso sāriputta, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti. Santi panāvuso sāriputta, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā paraṅkataṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti. Santāvuso sāriputta, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā sayaṅkatañca paraṅkatañca sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti. Santi panāvuso sāriputta, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti. Idha no, āvuso sāriputta, bhagavā kiṁvādī kimakkhāyī, kathaṁ byākaramānā ca mayaṁ vuttavādino ceva bhagavato assāma, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkheyyāma, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākareyyāma, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānupāto gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgaccheyyā”ti?

“Friend Sāriputta, there are some ascetics and brahmins, |proponents of kamma::who hold the view that actions have consequences [kammavāda]|, who declare that |pleasure and pain::ease and discomfort, happiness and sorrow [sukhadukkha]| are self-created. But, friend Sāriputta, there are some ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are created by another. Friend Sāriputta, there are some ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are both self-created and created by another. But, friend Sāriputta, there are some ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are neither self-created nor created by another, but are |arisen by chance::spontaneously arisen [adhiccasamuppanna]|. Regarding this, friend Sāriputta, what does the Blessed One assert, what does he declare? Answering in what way would we state what has been said by the Blessed One, and not misrepresent the Blessed One with what is untrue? How would we explain in accordance with the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, so that no reasonable consequence of our statement would afford grounds for criticism?”

“Paṭiccasamuppannaṁ kho, āvuso, sukhadukkhaṁ vuttaṁ bhagavatā. Kiṁ paṭicca? Phassaṁ paṭicca. Iti vadaṁ vuttavādī ceva bhagavato assa, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkheyya, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākareyya, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānupāto gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgaccheyya.

“Friend, the Blessed One has stated that pleasure and pain are |dependently arisen::casually produced, arisen together from a cause [paṭiccasamuppanna]|. Dependent on what? Dependent on |contact::sense impingement, raw experience, touch [phassa]|. One speaking thus would state what has been said by the Blessed One, and not misrepresent the Blessed One with what is untrue; and one would explain in accordance with the Dhamma, so that no reasonable consequence of their statement would afford grounds for criticism.

Tatrāvuso, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti, tadapi phassapaccayā. Yepi te …pe… yepi te …pe… yepi te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti, tadapi phassapaccayā.

Therein, friend, regarding those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are self-created—that too is conditioned by contact. Regarding those who ... and even those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are neither self-created nor created by another, but are arisen by chance—that too is conditioned by contact.

Tatrāvuso, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti, te vata aññatra phassā paṭisaṁvedissantīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yepi te …pe… yepi te …pe… yepi te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti, te vata aññatra phassā paṭisaṁvedissantīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī”ti.

Therein, friend, that those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are self-created, would experience it apart from contact—this is not possible. Regarding those who ... and even those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are neither self-created nor created by another, but are arisen by chance, that they would experience it apart from contact—this is not possible.”

Assosi kho āyasmā ānando āyasmato sāriputtassa āyasmatā bhūmijena saddhiṁ imaṁ kathāsallāpaṁ. Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando yāvatako āyasmato sāriputtassa āyasmatā bhūmijena saddhiṁ ahosi kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.

The venerable Ānanda heard this conversation between the venerable Sāriputta and the venerable Bhūmija. Then the venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the venerable Ānanda reported to the Blessed One the entire conversation that had taken place between the venerable Sāriputta and the venerable Bhūmija.

“Sādhu sādhu, ānanda, yathā taṁ sāriputto sammā byākaramāno byākareyya. Paṭiccasamuppannaṁ kho, ānanda, sukhadukkhaṁ vuttaṁ mayā. Kiṁ paṭicca? Phassaṁ paṭicca. Iti vadaṁ vuttavādī ceva me assa, na ca maṁ abhūtena abbhācikkheyya, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākareyya, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānupāto gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgaccheyya.

“Good, good, Ānanda! Sāriputta has answered rightly, just as one answering rightly should. For, Ānanda, pleasure and pain have been stated by me to be dependently arisen. Dependent on what? Dependent on contact. One speaking thus would state what has been said by me, and not misrepresent me with what is untrue; and one would explain in accordance with the Dhamma, so that no reasonable consequence of their statement would afford grounds for criticism.

Tatrānanda, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti tadapi phassapaccayā. Yepi te …pe… yepi te …pe… yepi te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti tadapi phassapaccayā.

Therein, Ānanda, regarding those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are self-created—that too is conditioned by contact. Regarding those who ... and even those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are neither self-created nor created by another, but are arisen by chance—that too is conditioned by contact.

Tatrānanda, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā sayaṅkataṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti, te vata aññatra phassā paṭisaṁvedissantīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Yepi te …pe… yepi te …pe… yepi te samaṇabrāhmaṇā kammavādā asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ paññapenti, te vata aññatra phassā paṭisaṁvedissantīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

Therein, Ānanda, that those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are self-created, would experience it apart from contact—this is not possible. Regarding those who ... and even those ascetics and brahmins, proponents of kamma, who declare that pleasure and pain are neither self-created nor created by another, but are arisen by chance, that they would experience it apart from contact—this is not possible.

Kāye hānanda, sati kāyasañcetanāhetu uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Vācāya hānanda, sati vacīsañcetanāhetu uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Mane hānanda, sati manosañcetanāhetu uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ avijjāpaccayā ca.

When there is the body, Ānanda, internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself due to intention regarding the body. When there is speech, Ānanda, internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself due to verbal intention. When there is the mind, Ānanda, internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself due to mental intention—and this is with |ignorance::fundamental unawareness or misunderstanding of the true nature of reality, not experientially understanding the four noble truths [avijjā]| as condition.

Sāmaṁ taṁ, ānanda, kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti, yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Pare taṁ, ānanda, kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharonti, yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Sampajāno taṁ, ānanda, kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Asampajāno taṁ, ānanda, kāyasaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ.

Either on one’s own initiative, Ānanda, one constructs that bodily construct, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself. Or else others construct that bodily construct for one, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself. Either |purposefully::deliberately; lit. clearly aware [sampajāna]| one constructs that bodily construct, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself. Or |inattentively::without clear awareness, with a muddled mind [asampajāna]| one constructs that bodily construct, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself.

Sāmaṁ taṁ, ānanda, vacīsaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Pare taṁ, ānanda, vacīsaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharonti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Sampajāno taṁ, ānanda …pe… asampajāno taṁ, ānanda, vacīsaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ.

Either on one’s own initiative, Ānanda, one constructs that verbal construct, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself. Or else others construct that verbal construct for one, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself. Either purposefully ... or inattentively one constructs that verbal construct, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself.

Sāmaṁ taṁ, ānanda, manosaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Pare taṁ, ānanda, manosaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharonti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Sampajāno taṁ, ānanda …pe… asampajāno taṁ, ānanda, manosaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkharoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ.

Either on one’s own initiative, Ānanda, one constructs that mental construct, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself. Or else others construct that mental construct for one, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself. Either purposefully ... or inattentively one constructs that mental construct, conditioned by which internal pleasure and pain arise within oneself.

Imesu, ānanda, dhammesu avijjā anupatitā. Avijjāya tveva, ānanda, asesavirāganirodhā so kāyo na hoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. vācā na hoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. So mano na hoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhaṁ. Khettaṁ taṁ na hoti …pe… vatthu taṁ na hoti …pe… āyatanaṁ taṁ na hoti …pe… adhikaraṇaṁ taṁ na hoti yaṁpaccayāssa taṁ uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhadukkhan”ti.

Ignorance, Ānanda, underlies these things. But with the remainderless fading away and cessation of ignorance, Ānanda, that body does not exist, conditioned by which that internal pleasure and pain would arise. That speech does not exist, conditioned by which that internal pleasure and pain would arise. That mind does not exist, conditioned by which that internal pleasure and pain would arise. That field does not exist ... that ground does not exist ... that sphere does not exist ... that locus does not exist, conditioned by which that internal pleasure and pain would arise within oneself.”

Topics & Qualities:

Contact

Contact

The meeting of sense faculty, sense object, and the corresponding consciousness—the convergence of three. Contact is where experience actually touches: from it arise feeling, intention, and perception, and it is the pivotal link between the sense bases and the rest of mental life. It is one of the factors of name (mentality) and a central node in dependent origination.

Also known as: sense impingement, sense impression
Pāli: phassa
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Dependent Co-Arising

Dependent Co-Arising

Dependent Co-Arising is the principle that when this exists, that comes to be; with the arising of this, that arises; when this does not exist, that does not come to be; with the cessation of this, that ceases. In the discourses it names both the general pattern of conditionality and, often, the twelve-link unfolding of suffering.

Also known as: dependent origination, dependent arising, conditionality, conditioned arising
Pāli: paṭiccasamuppāda, idappaccayatā
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Felt Experience

Felt Experience

Pleasant, neutral, or painful sensation—the experience felt on contact. Sometimes translated as “feeling.” Distinct from an emotional state or reaction, it refers to the affective tone of experience, the bare sensation of pleasure, pain, or neutrality before mental responses arise. It is the second of the five aggregates.

Also known as: feeling
Pāli: vedanā
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Intentional Constructs

Intentional Constructs

Intentional constructs are intentions, volitions, and choices expressed through body, speech, and mind. These are the kamma-producing processes that ‘fabricate’ experience. It is the fourth of the five aggregates.

Also known as: volitional formations, fabrications
Pāli: saṅkhāra
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Investigation

Investigation

Investigation involves the process of a careful inquiry of mental states, qualities, and phenomena, examining their arising, persisting, and ceasing in order to understand their true nature and support the cultivation of wisdom and awakening.

Also known as: inquiry, contemplation, examination, analysis, exploration
Pāli: vicaya, vīmaṃsā, parikkhati
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Speculation

Speculation

A form of discursive thought that wanders into conjecture and theorizing, disconnected from direct experience. It involves moving from one idea to another through logic and argument, and is often rooted in superficial attention. Speculation can further proliferate into views and opinions.

Also known as: analytical thinking disconnected from direct experience, conjecture, discursive reasoning, theorizing, hypothesis-making, reasoned reflection
Pāli: takka, kappa
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Last updated on June 25, 2026