Skip to reading
← Saṃyutta Nikāya

Six Fields of Contact (1st)

SN 35.71 · Paṭhamachaphassāyatanasutta

A faint wisp dissipates above cooled charred wood on gray stones.

“Mendicants, anyone who doesn’t truly understand the six fields of contact’s origin, disappearance, gratification, drawback, and escape has not completed the spiritual journey and is far from this teaching and training.”

When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha, “Here, sir, I’m discouraged. For I don’t truly understand the six fields of contact’s origin, disappearance, gratification, drawback, and escape.”

“What do you think, mendicant? Do you regard the eye like this: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“No, sir.”

“Good, mendicant! And regarding the eye, you will truly see clearly with right wisdom that: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ Just this is the end of suffering.

Do you regard the ear … nose … tongue … body …

Do you regard the mind like this: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

“No, sir.”

“Good, mendicant! And regarding the mind, you will truly see clearly with right wisdom that: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ Just this is the end of suffering.”

Connections

Collection & context

Books

About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.