The Blessed Buddha once pointed out this quite evident yet delicate
truth:
Bhikkhus, when there are hands, picking up and putting down appears as
consequence...
When there are feet, coming and going appears as consequence...
When there are limbs, bending and stretching appears as consequence...
When there is the belly, hunger and thirst appears as consequence...!!!
Similarly with these 6 sense-organs, Bhikkhus:
When there is an eye, internal pleasure & pain appears, arised from that
eye-contact...
When there is an ear, internal pleasure & pain appears, arised from that
ear-contact...
When there is a nose, internal pleasure & pain appears, arised from that
nose-contact...
When there is a tongue, internal pleasure & pain appears, arised from that
tongue-contact...
When there is a body, internal pleasure & pain appears, arised from that
body-contact...
When there is a mind, internal pleasure & pain appears, arised from that
mental-contact...
However, Bhikkhus:
When there are no hands, picking up and putting down does never appear...
When there are no feet, coming and going does never appear...
When there are no limbs, bending and stretching does never appear...
When there is no belly, hunger and thirst does never appear...!!!
Exactly so with these 6 sense-organs, Bhikkhus:
When there is no eye, internal pleasure & pain can never arise from that
absence...
When there is no ear, internal pleasure & pain can never arise from that
absence...
When there is no nose, internal pleasure & pain can never arise from that
absence...
When there is no tongue, internal pleasure & pain can never arise from that
absence...
When there is no body, internal pleasure & pain can never arise from that
absence...
When there is no mind, internal pleasure & pain can never arise from that
absence...
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV
[171-2]
Section 35: The 6 Senses. Salayatana.
The Simile on Hands &
Feet.
Hatthapaadupamaa 236.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
