Dutiyadvaya Sutta
“Wanderers,
consciousness exists in dependence on a dyad.[i]
How?”
The Eye #
Dependent upon the eye and forms, [ii]
visual consciousness becomes manifest.[iii]
The eye is transient, [iv]
continually changing,
and becoming different.[v]
Forms are transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Therefore, this unstable and unreliable dyad is
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.[vi]
Visual consciousness is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this visual consciousness,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.[vii]
When the cause for the manifestation of
visual consciousness is transient,
how could this consciousness be reliable,
stable or lasting?[viii]
The coming together,
combination and convergence
of these three elements is called
visual contact.[ix]
Visual contact is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this visual contact,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
The cause for the manifestation
of visual contact is transient,
how could this contact be reliable,
stable or lasting?
When there’s contact, one experiences,
When there’s contact, one starts thinking,
When there’s contact, one starts conceiving.[x]
Therefore,
all these unstable and unreliable components are
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.[xi]
The Ear #
Dependent upon the ear and sounds,
auditory consciousness becomes manifest.
The ear is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Sounds are transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Therefore, this unstable and unreliable dyad is
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Auditory consciousness is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this auditory consciousness,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of auditory consciousness is transient,
how could this consciousness be reliable,
stable or lasting?
The coming together,
combination and convergence
of these three elements is called
auditory contact.
Auditory contact is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this auditory contact.
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of auditory contact is transient,
how could this contact be reliable,
stable or lasting?
When there’s contact, one experiences,
When there’s contact, one starts thinking,
When there’s contact, one starts conceiving.
Therefore,
all these unstable and unreliable components are
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
The Nose #
Dependent upon the nose and fragrances,
olfactory consciousness becomes manifest.
The nose is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Fragrances are transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Therefore, this unstable and unreliable dyad is
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Olfactory consciousness is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this olfactory consciousness,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of olfactory consciousness is transient,
how could this consciousness be reliable,
stable or lasting?
The coming together, combination and convergence
of these three elements is called olfactory contact.
Olfactory contact is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this olfactory contact,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of olfactory contact is transient,
how could this contact be reliable,
stable or lasting?
When there’s contact, one experiences,
When there’s contact, one starts thinking,
When there’s contact, one starts conceiving.
Therefore,
all these unstable and unreliable components are
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
The Tongue #
Dependent upon the tongue and flavors,
gustative consciousness becomes manifest.
The tongue is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Flavors are transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Therefore, this unstable and unreliable dyad is
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Gustative consciousness is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this gustative consciousness,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of gustative consciousness is transient,
how could this consciousness be reliable,
stable or lasting?
The coming together,
combination and convergence
of these three elements is called
gustative contact.
Gustative contact is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this gustative contact,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of gustative contact is transient,
how could this contact be reliable,
stable or lasting?
When there’s contact, one experiences,
When there’s contact, one starts thinking,
When there’s contact, one starts conceiving.
Therefore,
all these unstable and unreliable components are
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
The Body #
Dependent upon the body and tactile objects,
bodily consciousness becomes manifest.
The body is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Tangibles are transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Therefore, this unstable and unreliable dyad is
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Bodily consciousness is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this bodily consciousness,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of bodily consciousness is transient,
how could this consciousness be reliable,
stable or lasting?
The coming together,
combination and convergence
of these three elements is called
bodily contact.
Bodily contact is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this bodily contact,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of bodily contact is transient,
how could this contact be reliable,
stable or lasting?
When there’s contact, one experiences,
When there’s contact, one starts thinking,
When there’s contact, one starts conceiving.
Therefore,
all these unstable and unreliable components are
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
The Mind #
Dependent upon the mind and mental activities,
mental consciousness becomes manifest.
The mind is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Mental activities are transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Therefore, this unstable and unreliable dyad is
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
Mental consciousness is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this mental consciousness,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of mental consciousness is transient,
how could this consciousness be reliable,
stable or lasting?
The coming together,
combination and convergence
of these three elements is called
mental contact.
Mental contact is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
And whatever arises based on or supported
by this mental contact,
that also is transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
When the cause for the manifestation
of mental contact is transient,
how could this contact be reliable,
stable or lasting?
When there’s contact, one experiences,
When there’s contact, one starts thinking,
When there’s contact, one starts conceiving.
Therefore,
all these unstable and unreliable components are
transient,
continually changing,
and becoming different.
This is how to understand that consciousness exists in dependence on a dyad.
________________________
[i] “Dvayaṃ, bhikkhave, paṭicca viññāṇaṃ sambhoti. dvaya 1 adj. twofold; dual; double [dvi + *a]; dvaya 2 nt. duality; two things; pair; couple; dyad. Syn.: Duo, Dyad, couple, doublet, couplet, pair,
[ii] paṭicca ger. dependent; depending (on); contingent (upon); relying (on); because (of); supported (by); on account (of); grounded (on
[iii] Cakkhuñca paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṃ.
[iv] Aniccaṃ: Transitory, fleeting, short-lived, ephemeral, impermanent
[v] Cakkhu aniccaṃ vipariṇāmi aññathābhāvi.
[vi] Itthetaṃ dvayaṃ calañceva byathañca aniccaṃ vipariṇāmi aññathābhāvi.
[vii] Yopi hetu yopi paccayo cakkhuviññāṇassa uppādāya, sopi hetu sopi paccayo anicco vipariṇāmī aññathābhāvī.
[viii] Aniccaṃ kho pana, bhikkhave, paccayaṃ paṭicca uppannaṃ cakkhuviññāṇaṃ kuto niccaṃ bhavissati. Niccaṃ: Few ideas for translation: Permanent, perpetual, lasting, everlasting, stable, durable, enduring, fixed, invariable, perennial, steadfast, unchanging…
[ix] Yā kho, bhikkhave, imesaṃ tiṇṇaṃ dhammānaṃ saṅgati sannipāto samavāyo, ayaṃ vuccati cakkhusamphasso.
[x] Phuṭṭho, bhikkhave, vedeti, phuṭṭho ceteti, phuṭṭho sañjānāti.
[xi] Itthetepi dhammā calā ceva byathā ca aniccā vipariṇāmino aññathābhāvino … pe …
