[200] On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda was dwelling at Kosambī, in Ghosita's Park. Then Ghosita the householder approached the Venerable Ānanda … Sitting to one side, Ghosita the householder said to the Venerable Ānanda: "Venerable Ānanda, it is said, 'diversity of elements (dhātu), diversity of elements.' In what way, venerable sir, has the diversity of elements been spoken of by the Blessed One?"
"There exists, householder, the eye element, and forms that are agreeable, and eye-consciousness: in dependence on a contact (phassa) to be experienced as pleasant, there arises pleasant feeling (vedanā). There exists, householder, the eye element, and forms that are disagreeable, and eye-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as painful, there arises painful feeling. There exists, householder, the eye element, and forms that are a basis for equanimity, and eye-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as neither-painful-nor-pleasant, there arises neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. …
"There exists, householder, the tongue element, and tastes that are agreeable, and tongue-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as pleasant, there arises pleasant feeling. There exists, householder, the tongue element, and tastes that are disagreeable, and tongue-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as painful, there arises painful feeling. There exists, householder, the tongue element, and tastes that are a basis for equanimity, and tongue-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as neither-painful-nor-pleasant, there arises neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. …
"There exists, householder, the mind element, and mental phenomena that are agreeable, and mind-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as pleasant, there arises pleasant feeling. There exists, householder, the mind element, and mental phenomena that are disagreeable, and mind-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as painful, there arises painful feeling. There exists, householder, the mind element, and mental phenomena that are a basis for equanimity, and mind-consciousness: in dependence on a contact to be experienced as neither-painful-nor-pleasant, there arises neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling.
"It is in this way, householder, that the diversity of elements has been spoken of by the Blessed One."
The sixth.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.