The six sense elements condition diverse contacts, which then condition diverse felt experiences. The Buddha emphasizes that this dependent arising is strictly one-way: feelings do not condition contacts, nor do contacts condition the elements.

SN 14.5  Dutiya vedanānānatta sutta - Diversity Of Felt Experiences (Second)

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthi.

“Dhātunānattaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ, phassanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati vedanānānattaṁ, no vedanānānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ, no phassanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhātunānattaṁ.

“Bhikkhus, |dependent on::contingent on, supported by, grounded on [paṭicca]| the |diversity of elements::variety of foundational properties making up experience—earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness; basis for bodily and mental phenomena; multiplicity of conditioned building blocks [dhātunānatta]|, there arises a diversity of contacts; dependent on the diversity of contacts, there arises a |diversity of felt experiences::pleasant, neutral, or painful sensations, feelings [vedanānānatta]|. A diversity of contacts does not arise dependent on a diversity of felt experiences, and the diversity of elements does not arise dependent on a diversity of contacts.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ? Cakkhudhātu sotadhātu ghānadhātu jivhādhātu kāyadhātu manodhātu idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ.

And what is the diversity of elements? The |eye element::faculty of vision [cakkhudhātu]|, the |ear element::hearing faculty [sotadhātu]|, the |nose element::faculty of perceiving odors [ghānadhātu]|, the |tongue element::faculty of perceiving taste [jivhādhātu]|, the |body element::faculty of perceiving tactile sensations [kāyadhātu]|, and the |mind element::mentality [manodhātu]|. This is called the diversity of elements.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ, phassanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati vedanānānattaṁ, no vedanānānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ, no phassanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhātunānattaṁ?

And how is it|, bhikkhus,::::| that dependent on the diversity of elements, there arises a diversity of contacts; that dependent on the diversity of contacts, there arises a diversity of felt experiences; that a diversity of contacts does not arise dependent on a diversity of felt experiences, and the diversity of elements does not arise dependent on a diversity of contacts?

Cakkhudhātuṁ, bhikkhave, paṭicca uppajjati cakkhusamphasso, cakkhusamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati cakkhusamphassajā vedanā, no cakkhusamphassajaṁ vedanaṁ paṭicca uppajjati cakkhusamphasso, no cakkhusamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati cakkhudhātu.

Dependent on the eye element, there arises a |contact with the eye::visual impression, visual experience [cakkhusamphassa]|; dependent on the contact with the eye, there arises a felt experience |produced from vision::lit. born from eye touch [cakkhusamphassaja]|. Contact with the eye does not arise dependent on the felt experience produced from vision, and the eye element does not arise dependent on a contact with the eye.

Sotadhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati sotasamphasso, sotasamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sotasamphassajā vedanā, no sotasamphassajaṁ vedanaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sotasamphasso, no sotasamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sotadhātu.

Dependent on the ear element, there arises a |contact with the ear::auditory impression, sonic experience [sotasamphassa]|; dependent on the contact with the ear, there arises a felt experience |produced from hearing::lit. born from ear touch [sotasamphassaja]|. Contact with the ear does not arise dependent on the felt experience produced from hearing, and the ear element does not arise dependent on a contact with the ear.

Ghānadhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati ghānasamphasso, ghānasamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati ghānasamphassajā vedanā, no ghānasamphassajaṁ vedanaṁ paṭicca uppajjati ghānasamphasso, no ghānasamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati ghānadhātu.

Dependent on the nose element, there arises a |contact with the nose::olfactory impression, nasal experience [ghanasamphassa]|; dependent on the contact with the nose, there arises a felt experience |produced from smell::lit. born from nose touch [ghānasamphassaja]|. Contact with the nose does not arise dependent on the felt experience produced from smell, and the nose element does not arise dependent on a contact with the nose.

Jivhādhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati jivhāsamphasso, jivhāsamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati jivhāsamphassajā vedanā, no jivhāsamphassajaṁ vedanaṁ paṭicca uppajjati jivhāsamphasso, no jivhāsamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati jivhādhātu.

Dependent on the tongue element, there arises a |contact with the tongue::gustatory impression, taste experience [jivhāsamphassa]|; dependent on the contact with the tongue, there arises a felt experience |produced from taste::lit. born from tongue touch [jivhāsamphassaja]|. Contact with the tongue does not arise dependent on the felt experience produced from taste, and the tongue element does not arise dependent on a contact with the tongue.

Kāyadhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati kāyasamphasso, kāyasamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati kāyasamphassajā vedanā, no kāyasamphassajaṁ vedanaṁ paṭicca uppajjati kāyasamphasso, no kāyasamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati kāyadhātu.

Dependent on the body element, there arises a |physical contact::tactile impression, somatic experience [kāyasamphassa]|; dependent on the physical contact, there arises a felt experience |produced from somatic impression::lit. born from body touch [kāyasamphassaja]|. Physical contact does not arise dependent on the felt experience produced from somatic impression, and the body element does not arise dependent on a physical contact.

Manodhātuṁ paṭicca uppajjati manosamphasso, manosamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati manosamphassajā vedanā, no manosamphassajaṁ vedanaṁ paṭicca uppajjati manosamphasso, no manosamphassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati manodhātu.

Dependent on the mind element, there arises a |contact with the mind::mental impression, cognitive experience [manasamphassa]|; dependent on the contact with the mind, there arises a felt experience produced from mental impression. Contact with the mind does not arise dependent on the felt experience produced from mental impression, and the mind element does not arise dependent on a contact with the mind.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, dhātunānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ, phassanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati vedanānānattaṁ, no vedanānānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati phassanānattaṁ, no phassanānattaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dhātunānattan”ti.

Thus|, bhikkhus,::::,| dependent on the diversity of elements, there arises a diversity of contacts; dependent on the diversity of contacts, there arises a diversity of felt experiences. A diversity of contacts does not arise dependent on a diversity of felt experiences, and the diversity of elements does not arise dependent on a diversity of contacts.”

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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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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Recognition of diversity

Recognition of diversity

The perception of multiplicity and variety in experience—seeing distinct forms, beings, and phenomena as separate entities. While natural to ordinary cognition, when fueled by craving and conceit it proliferates into endless distinctions and preferences, binding the mind to the world of differentiation.

Also known as: concept of variety, perception of diversity, perception of multiplicity
Pāli: nānattasaññā
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Last updated on May 27, 2026