[509] "Lady, how many formations (saṅkhārā) are there?"
"Friend Visākha, there are these three formations: the bodily formation (kāyasaṅkhāra), the verbal formation (vacīsaṅkhāra), and the mental formation (cittasaṅkhāra)."
"But lady, what is the bodily formation? What is the verbal formation? What is the mental formation?"
"Friend Visākha, in-breathing and out-breathing (assāsa-passāsā) are the bodily formation; applied thought and sustained thought (vitakka-vicārā) are the verbal formation; perception (saññā) and feeling (vedanā) are the mental formation."
"But lady, why are in-breathing and out-breathing the bodily formation? Why are applied thought and sustained thought the verbal formation? Why are perception and feeling the mental formation?"
"Friend Visākha, in-breathing and out-breathing are bodily; these things are bound up with the body. Therefore in-breathing and out-breathing are the bodily formation. Friend Visākha, having first thought and examined, one afterwards breaks into speech. Therefore applied thought and sustained thought are the verbal formation. Perception and feeling are mental (cetasika); these things are bound up with the mind (citta). Therefore perception and feeling are the mental formation."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.