The six senses, (Six Sense Doors)

The Six Sense Doors - Coming to your senses

The Centered Path, Part 10 of Buddhist Basics (ref: Chachakka Sutta, et al)

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Known in Pali as ‘Ayatana’ it translates as ‘sense base’ or occasionally ‘Vishaya’ or domains.  Related to the Five Aggregates, we have the six sense doors. Experienced in three basic tones (sensations) of pleasant, unpleasant, or indifferent. 

1. The Eye/ Seeing, then the eye consciousness which causes one of the basic tones and craving..  

2. The Ear/ Hearing, then the ear consciousness which causes one of the basic tones and craving..

3. The Nose/ Smelling, then the nose consciousness which causes one of the basic tones and craving..

4. The Tongue/ Tasting, then the tongue consciousness which causes one of the basic tones and craving..

5. The Body/ Touching, then the body consciousness which causes one of the basic tones and craving..

6. The Mind/ Thinking. then the mind consciousness* which causes one of the basic tones and craving..

In some cases, there are also two more:  The seventh:  Manas-Vijnana or Mind Knowledge, Which is basically ‘common sense’, and the thoughts we have about an object.  These may be informed, uninformed (ignorant) or neutral also.  

The Eighth:  Alaya-Vijnana: Storehouse Consciousness.  The collection of consciousness and thought.  Seed thoughts.   (typically they can be considered under mind)

Mind Consciousness is the coordinator of the first five. It is recognized in three different ways.  

1. Recognition of physical objects based on memory. 

2. Comparative cognition, remembering similar things

3. Non-cognition, or imaginary objects. 

The mind is represented as an internal  sense organ which reacts to the sense objects that include impressions, feelings, perceptions and volition. 

As part of the 12 parts of dependent origination:  Ignorance - Formations - Consciousness - Names and forms - the six bases - contact - sensations - craving (suffering) - clinging - becoming - birth - old age and death 

The six sense doors help us to watch our experiences as they happen as well as be able to sense them as they are and realize the attachments and cravings without being misguided by them.  We also can use this to better understand our own minds and how they and the senses muddle reality.