The "Book of the Six Sense Bases" is the fourth book in the Saṁyutta Nikāya. It is named after the first and longest saṁyutta, which focuses on the Buddha's core teaching concerning the six sense bases. The second saṁyutta on Feelings also addresses a significant doctrinal topic. The remaining eight saṁyuttas cover various secondary themes, with some organized by subject matter and others by the individuals involved in the teachings. This book offers deep insights into the interaction of senses, perception, and the experience of reality.
The Group of Linked Discourses on the Six Sense Bases
The "Linked Discourses on the Six Sense Bases" contains discourses focusing on the six sense bases and their corresponding objects. These teachings explore the nature of sensory experience, the arising of contact, and the role of consciousness in the process of perception. By examining the interplay between the senses and their objects, these discourses offer insights into the nature of reality and the conditions for suffering and liberation.
The "Linked Discourses on Feeling" explores the nature of felt experiences—pleasant, painful, and neutral—as a fundamental aspect of experience. These teachings examine how feelings arise, their role in shaping perception, and the underlying tendencies that lead to attachment or aversion. By understanding the conditioned nature of feeling and its cessation, these discourses offer insight into the path to liberation and the ending of suffering.
The "Linked Discourses with Jambukhādaka" features a series of conversations between Venerable Sāriputta and his nephew, the wanderer Jambukhādaka. These discourses follow a systematic pattern where Jambukhādaka asks direct questions about core Buddhist concepts, such as Nibbāna, arahantship, and the purpose of the spiritual life. Sāriputta responds with clear, concise explanations that illuminate the path to liberation.
The "Linked Discourses on the Unconditioned" contains discourses focusing on the unconditioned, the ultimate reality beyond conditioned phenomena. These teachings explore the nature of the unconditioned, its relationship to the conditioned, and the path to realizing the unconditioned. By examining the nature of ultimate reality, these discourses offer insights into the nature of liberation and the conditions for spiritual awakening.