The 6 External Sense Bases

Overview

Corresponding directly to the six internal bases are the Six External Sense Bases (Bāhirāyatana). These are the specific fields of objects that the internal organs detect. The collision between an internal base and its corresponding external base is what sparks the arising of consciousness.

The List

1. Rūpāyatana - Form / Visible Object: Colors and shapes that impinge upon the eye.
2. Saddāyatana - Sound: Auditory vibrations that impinge upon the ear.
3. Gandhāyatana - Odor: Smells that impinge upon the nose.
4. Rasāyatana - Taste: Flavors that impinge upon the tongue.
5. Phoṭṭhabbāyatana - Tangible Object: Physical sensations (hard, soft, hot, cold) that impinge upon the body.
6. Dhammāyatana - Mental Object: Thoughts, ideas, concepts, feelings, and memories that impinge upon the mind base.

Textual References

• Canonical: Salāyatana Saṃyutta (SN 35) – The Buddha instructs monks not to grasp at the signs or features of these six external objects, as doing so leads to the influx of defilements.