Touching

THUS have I heard. On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthi at the Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Because of the diversity in elements, brethren, arises diversity of contact.

What, brethren, is the diversity in elements?

The eye-element^ed1,
the ear-element,
the nose-element,
the tongue-element,
the body-element,
the mind-element.

This, brethren, is called the diversity in elements.

And what is the consequent diversity of contact?

An [102] eye-contact arises because of the eye-element.

An ear-contact arises because of the ear-element.

A nose-contact arises because of the nose-element.

A tongue-contact arises because of the tongue-element.

A body-contact arises because of the body-element.

A mind-contact arises because of the mind-element.

It is thus, brethren, that because of diversity of elements diversity of contact arises.

^ed1 The translators footnote: "§ 1 is repeated." But it is not repeated as in § 1, but as given here. Repetition as in § 1 makes no sense either.