At Sāvatthi.
“I will teach you the diversity of elements, bhikkhus. Listen to it and pay close attention, I will speak.”
“Yes, venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said:
“And what, bhikkhus, is the diversity of elements?
The |eye element::faculty of vision [cakkhudhātu]|, the |form element::objects of vision, materials, including the realm and objects of subtle materiality [rūpadhātu]|, and the |eye-consciousness element::visual awareness [cakkhuviññāṇadhātu]|;
the |ear element::hearing faculty [sotadhātu]|, the |sound element::auditory element, sounds, noises, voices [saddadhātu]|, and the |ear-consciousness element::auditory awareness [sotaviññāṇadhātu]|;
the |nose element::faculty of perceiving odors [ghānadhātu]|, the |odor element::smells, scents, aroma, fragrances [gandhadhātu]|, and the |nose-consciousness element::awareness of smells [ghānaviññāṇadhātu]|;
the |tongue element::faculty of perceiving taste [jivhādhātu]|, the |taste element::tastes, flavors [rasadhātu]|, and the |tongue-consciousness element::awareness of tastes [jivhāviññāṇadhātu]|;
the |body element::faculty of perceiving tactile sensations [kāyadhātu]|, the |touch element::physical sensations, touch, tactile sensations, tangibles [phoṭṭhabbadhātu]|, and the |body-consciousness element::awareness of physical sensations [kāyaviññāṇadhātu]|;
the |mind::mentality [manodhātu]|, the |mental objects::thoughts, ideas, memories, emotions, intentions, perceptions, concepts, beliefs, mental images, or fabrications arising from past experiences and future projections [dhammadhātu]|, and the |mind-consciousness element::knowing, mental awareness [manoviññāṇadhātu]|.
This, bhikkhus, is called the diversity of elements.”