SN36.10 — The Discourse on Contact as the Root

Disciples, there are these three feelings that arise from contact, have contact as their root, have contact as their origin, and have contact as their condition. What are the three? Pleasant feeling, painful feeling, and neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling.

Disciples, dependent on contact that is pleasant-feeling, a pleasant feeling arises. With the cessation of that same contact that is pleasant-feeling, the pleasant feeling that arose dependent on that contact ceases and subsides.

Disciples, dependent on contact that is painful-feeling, a painful feeling arises. With the cessation of that same contact that is painful-feeling, the painful feeling that arose dependent on that contact ceases and subsides.

Disciples, dependent on contact that is neither-painful-nor-pleasant-feeling, a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling arises. With the cessation of that same contact that is neither-painful-nor-pleasant-feeling, the neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling that arose dependent on that contact ceases and subsides.

Just as from the coming together and friction of two sticks, heat is generated and fire is produced. With the separation and removal of those same sticks, the heat that was generated ceases and subsides.

In the same way these three feelings arise from contact, have contact as their root, have contact as their origin, and have contact as their condition. Dependent on the contact that is present, the corresponding feeling arises. With the cessation of that contact, the corresponding feeling ceases.

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