Saṁyutta Nikaya
Nidāna Vagga
14. [3.] Dhātu-Saṁyuttaṁ
I. Nānattavaggo Pathamo
ii. Bāhira-pañcakaṁ
Chapter XIV
Kindred Sayings on Element
2 (b). Five (Discourses on) External Element
Sutta 7
Saññā Sutta
Perception
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 in perceptions,
because of diversity in perceptions arises diversity in aims,
because of diversity in aims arises diversity in desires,
because of diversity in desires arises diversity in yearnings,
because of diversity in yearnings arises diversity in quests.
What, brethren, is the diversity in elements?ed1
Visible object-element,
sound-element,
odour-element,
taste-element,
tangible-element,
idea-element.
This is called the diversity in elements.
How is it that because of diversity in elements there arises diversity in perceptions,
because of diversity in perceptions arises diversity in aims,
because of diversity in aims arises diversity in desires,
because of diversity in desires arises diversity in yearnings,
because of diversity in yearnings arises diversity in quests?
Because of visible object-element, brethren, arises visible object-perception,
because of visible object-perception arises visible object-aims,
because of visible object-aims arises visible object-desires,
because of visible object-desires arises visible object-yearnings,
because of visible object-yearnings arises visible object quests.
Because of sound-element, brethren, arises sound-perception,
because of sound-perception arises sound-aims,
because of sound-aims arises sound-desires,
because of sound-desires arises sound-yearnings,
because of sound-yearnings arises sound-quests.
Because of odour-element, brethren, arises odour-perception,
because of odour-perception arises odour-aims,
because of odour-aims arises odour-desires,
because of odour-desires arises odour-yearnings,
because of odour-yearnings arises odour-quests.
Because of taste-element, brethren, arises taste-perception,
because of taste-perception arises taste-aims,
because of taste-aims arises taste-desires,
because of taste-desires arises taste-yearnings,
because of taste-yearnings arises taste-quests.
Because of tangibles-element, brethren, arises tangibles-perception,
because of tangibles-perception arises tangibles-aims,
because of tangibles-aims arises tangibles-desires,
because of tangibles-desires arises tangibles-yearnings,
because of tangibles-yearnings arises tangibles-quests.
Because of ideas-element, brethren, arises ideas-perception,
because of ideas-perception arises ideas-aims,
because of ideas-aims arises ideas-desires,
because of ideas-desires arises ideas-yearnings,
because of ideas-yearnings arises ideas-quests.
Thus it is that because of the diversity in elements, brethren, arises diversity in perceptions,
because of diversity in perceptions arises diversity in aims,
because of diversity in aims arises diversity in desires,
because of diversity in desires arises diversity in yearnings,
because of diversity in yearnings arises diversity in quests.
ed1 From here down summarized by the translators thus: "The diversity in elements, to wit, in the six afore-named [Ed.: SN 2.14.6], ye know, and now ye know the causal connection in the consequences thereof, true in each of the six."