Dispelling the Contact

Monks, consciousness comes to be based on two things.

And how, Monks, does consciousness come to be based on two things?

Consciousness is based on the eye and forms, there arises eye-consciousness. The eye is impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise; forms are impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. Thus these two things are moving and fluctuating, impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise.

Eye-consciousness is impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. The cause and condition for the arising of eye-consciousness is also impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. When, Monks, eye-consciousness has arisen based on a condition that is impermanent, how could it be permanent?

The meeting, the encounter, the combining of these three things is called eye-contact. Eye-contact too is impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. The cause and condition for the arising of eye-contact is also impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. When, Monks, eye-contact has arisen based on a condition that is impermanent, how could it be permanent?

Contacted, Monks, one feels, contacted one craves, contacted one perceives. Thus these things, too are moving and fluctuating, impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise.

(Similar discourses were recited in the case of ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, and mind-consciousness.)

In dependence on the ear and sounds, there arises ear-consciousness…

In dependence on the nose and odors, there arises nose-consciousness…

In dependence on the tongue and flavors, there arises tongue-consciousness…

In dependence on the body and physical objects, there arises body-consciousness…

In dependence on the mind and mental objects, there arises mind-consciousness…

The ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind are impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise; mental objects are impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise.

Thus two things are moving and fluctuating, impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise.

Mind-consciousness is impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. The cause and condition for the arising of mind-consciousness is also impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. When, Monks, mind-consciousness has arisen based on a condition that is impermanent, how could it be permanent?

The meeting, the encounter, the combining of these three things is called mind-contact.

Mind-contact too is impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. The cause and condition for the arising of mind-contact is also impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise. When, Monks, mind-contact has arisen based on a condition that is impermanent, how could it be permanent?

Contacted, Monks, one feels, contacted one craves, contacted one perceives. Thus these things too are moving and fluctuating, impermanent, changing, becoming otherwise.

It is in such a way, Monks, that consciousness comes to be based on two things.

(Reference: SN 35.93)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares and walks Students through his Teachings helping them to clearly see The Universal Truth of Impermanence.

He explains how consciousness or awareness is based on The Six Internal Sense Bases and The Six External Sense Bases. This is called consciousness or awareness and is impermanent.

With The Six Internal Sense Bases, The Six External Sense Bases, and awareness then there is contact.

Eye + Form + Consciousness (i.e. Awareness) = Contact through the eyes

Ear + Sound + Consciousness (i.e. Awareness) = Contact through the ears

Nose + Odor + Consciousness (i.e. Awareness) = Contact through the nose

Tongue + Flavor + Consciousness (i.e. Awareness) = Contact through the tongue

Body + Physical Object + Consciousness (i.e. Awareness) = Contact through the body

Mind + Mental Object + Consciousness (i.e. Awareness) = Contact through the mind

Contact is impermanent but once one experiences contact through The Six Sense Bases, the mind then experiences craving/desire/attachment.