Sensory Spectra

Sensory Spectra (khams)

• Abhidharma sources identify eighteen sensory or psychophysical spectra (Skt. aṣṭadaśadhātu), namely: those of the eye, form and visual consciousness; those of the ear, sound, and auditory consciousness, those of the nose, smell, and olfactory consciousness; those of the tongue, taste, and gustatory consciousness; those of the body, touch, and tactile consciousness; and those of the intellect, phenomena, and mental consciousness. For a detailed analysis, see, L. Pruden (trans.), Abhidharmakośabhāṣyaṃ, Ch. 1, The Dhātus, pp. 55-131. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)