The Related Discourses
5. Elements
| （四五一） 種種諸界 | 19 (451). The Variety of Elements |
|---|---|
| 如是我聞： 一時，佛住舍衛國、祇樹、給孤獨園。 | 1. Thus I have heard:1 One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī. |
| 爾時，世尊告諸比丘： 「我今當說種種諸界。 諦聽，善思。 當為汝說。 云何為種種界？ 謂眼界、色界、眼識界，耳界、聲界、耳識界，鼻界、香界、鼻識界，舌界、味界、舌識界，身界、觸界、身識界，意界、法界、意識界。 是名種種界。」 | 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “Now, I will explain the variety of elements. Listen closely and consider it well. I will explain it for you. What is the variety of elements? They are the eye element, form element, and element of visual awareness; the ear element, sound element, and element of auditory awareness; the nose element, odor element, and element of olfactory awareness; the tongue element, flavor element, and element of gustatory awareness; the body element, touch element, and element of somatic awareness; and the mind element, idea element, and element of mental awareness. These are called the variety of elements.” |
| 佛說是經已，諸比丘聞佛所說歡喜，奉行。 | 3. After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved. |
Notes
This is sūtra no. 451 in the Taisho edition and no. 710 in Yinshun (T99.2.115c27-6a4, Y30.164a12-5a1). It’s a close parallel to SN 14.1, which also defines a “diversity of elements” (P. dhātunānatta) as the eighteen elements of conscious experience. [back]
Translator: Charles Patton
Last Revised: 8 February 2026
Previous | Next |