Significance of Five senses
The Five senses in various philosophical contexts refer to the sensory organs that enable perception of the environment through touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. These senses are crucial in experiences and interactions with the world, but they can also lead to distraction from spiritual pursuits. Different traditions, including Jainism, Vaishnavism, and Buddhism, emphasize the importance of mastering or controlling these senses to achieve spiritual growth and enlightenment, recognizing them as both assets and potential obstacles in one's spiritual journey.
Synonyms: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell
In Dutch: Vijf zintuigen
In Finnish: Viisi aistia
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Five senses'
In Buddhism, the Five Senses encompass sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. They are channels for perception and attachment, guiding the experience of the world, while encouraging restraint for deeper meditation and spiritual liberation.
From: Abhidhamma in Daily Life
(1) The five sensory faculties which are classified as elements, including eye-element, ear-element, nose-element, tongue-element, and body-element.[1] (2) The bodily senses: eye-sense, ear-sense, smelling-sense, tasting-sense, and body-sense, through which sense-door processes occur.[2] (3) The five senses are the means through which citta realizes objects; they include sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.[3] (4) The faculties through which individuals experience the world and which often contribute to attachment.[4]
From: Patthanuddesa Dipani
(1) The sensory channels through which perception occurs, activated when corresponding sense-objects interact with the five sensory bases.[5] (2) The sensory faculties through which the five objects present themselves, also referred to as the five bases.[6] (3) The collective term for the five sentient organs along with their accompanying functions or concomitants.[7]
From: Introducing Buddhist Abhidhamma
(1) The sensory experiences of seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling that require awareness.[8] (2) The physiological faculties of touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell through which desires are influenced by external contact.[9]
From: Patthana Dhamma
(1) The means through which we perceive the world, which includes sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.[10]
From: Guide to Tipitaka
(1) Refers to the faculties through which a person experiences the world, which the Buddha advises to restrain for deeper meditation.[11]
From: Dhammapada (translated from the Pali)
(1) The sensory experiences that a Bhikshu is advised to rise above to achieve liberation.[12]
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) The faculties of perception allowing individuals to experience the world, specifically identified as part of the five kinds of good dharmas.[13] (2) The five senses are referred to as sense objects (kamaguna) that one can reject in the pursuit of ascetic practices.[14] (3) Refers to the sensory inputs (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) that interact with the external world.[15]
From: Mahavastu (great story)
(1) The pleasures enjoyed by the men of Dipavati as they engaged in music and entertainment.[16]
From: The gods of northern Buddhism
(1) Representations related to the senses including sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.[17]
From: Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary)
(1) The basic sensory modalities: form, sound, smell, taste, and contact.[18]
Hindu concept of 'Five senses'
In Hinduism, the "Five senses" symbolize sensory perceptions and faculties—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell—that can distract from spiritual growth but, when mastered, aid in realizing the divine and understanding reality.
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) The faculties of perception (hearing, touch, taste, vision, and scent) that contribute to human experience and knowledge.[19] (2) The bodily senses that include sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell, which relate to the mind.[20] (3) A metaphor used by Draupadi to express her deep connection and affection for her five husbands, the Pandavas.[21] (4) The faculties that perceive the physical world: touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight.[22] (5) The sensory perceptions that are part of individuality, including sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.[23]
From: Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4
(1) The faculties of perception attached to the body that are often misperceived as solid and concrete.[24] (2) The organs through which the individual soul perceives the world, each associated with a respective element or aspect of perception.[25] (3) The five senses refer to the faculties through which perception occurs, comprising sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.[26]
From: Padma Purana
(1) The aspects of human perception that, when controlled, contribute to a penitent lifestyle.[27] (2) The faculties of perception in humans, often discussed in the context of attachment and spiritual growth.[28]
From: Harivamsha Purana
(1) The five senses refer to the human faculties of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, which can be controlled to attain spiritual enlightenment.[29] (2) The sensory organs of living creatures that Narayana attracts and balances within the universe.[30]
From: Anugita (English translation)
(1) Refers to the senses associated with perception and interaction with the external world.[31]
From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
(1) The faculties through which an individual perceives the physical world; in this context, they are seen as distractions from spiritual realization.[32] (2) The hidden enemies that torment individual souls in various ways, making the experience of life challenging.[33] (3) The five senses are the means through which experiences and pleasures are perceived, which can lead one into temptation.[34] (4) The faculties (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell) that are described as serving the Lord.[35] (5) The forms taken by the Lord that correspond to the human sensory experiences.[36]
From: Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study)
(1) The faculties of perception through which individuals engage with the world, which must be kept pure to maintain spiritual focus.[37]
From: Vivekachudamani
(1) The five senses refer to the modalities through which beings perceive the world, specifically sound, sight, touch, taste, and smell.[38]
From: Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja)
(1) Refers to the five organ senses recognized by the Kanvas, which illuminate their respective objects.[39]
From: Shiva Gita (study and summary)
(1) The means through which the universe is perceived, contrasting with the metaphysical aspect of Omkara.[40]
From: Sivaprakasam (Study in Bondage and Liberation)
(1) The sensory organs that allow the self to interact with the external world.[41] (2) The sensory organs of the body which, when understood as a mirage, lead the individual self towards realization of God.[42]
From: Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice)
(1) The sensory experiences metaphorically attributed to the five faces of Siva, correlating them with the fundamental elements.[43]
From: Tiruvacakam Part I
(1) Refers to the sensory experiences that lead the poet to feel turmoil and distraction from devotion.[44]
From: Tirukkural (Thirukkural)
(1) The five faculties of human perception (taste, touch, sight, sound, smell) that must be mastered to attain spiritual knowledge.[45]
From: Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana
(1) The faculties through which a drug can be perceived, as opposed to the transitory nature of its attributes.[46]
Jain concept of 'Five senses'
In Jainism, the Five Senses denote the sensory perceptions of five-sensed beings, encompassing touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing, essential for engaging with the world, yet potentially leading to delusion if not mastered.
From: Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
(1) The five primary senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing mentioned as the indriyas.[47] (2) The sensory faculties that allow an individual to perceive the world, involving sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.[48] (3) The sensory perceptions possessed by a being, which in this context, pertains to those endowed with these faculties in relation to the karma discussed.[49] (4) The specific number of senses acknowledged in the text, emphasizing that there are only five and no more.[50] (5) The five senses refer to the sensory modalities including touch, which are involved in perceiving agreeable and disagreeable objects.[51]
From: Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
(1) The sensory organs including skin, tongue, nose, eye, and ear that are associated with touch, taste, smell, form and sound.[52] (2) The five senses refer to the sensory organs that allow human beings to perceive the environment through touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.[53] (3) Refers to advanced living beings that have developed full sensory perception, allowing them to engage in complex interactions.[54]
From: Uttaradhyayana Sutra
(1) The aspects of human experience that can lead to delusion and distraction, highlighted in Nami's teachings on self-mastery.[55]
The concept of Five senses in local and regional sources
The keyphrase "Five senses" encompasses traditional perceptions that shape reality and spirituality, highlighting the significance of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell in enriching human experience and understanding.
From: Triveni Journal
(1) The human faculties of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell that govern perception.[56] (2) The traditional sensory inputs that nourish and enrich the human mind, emphasizing the importance of sensory experience in psychological understanding.[57] (3) The traditional sensory perceptions that, according to Blake, limit human understanding of reality and spiritual truths.[58]
The concept of Five senses in scientific sources
The keyphrase "Five senses" relates to the text by indicating the sensory modalities—hearing, vision, touch, smell, and taste—employed in patient examination to collect crucial diagnostic information for medical assessments.
From: World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
(1) Includes vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, essential for the proper functioning of corresponding organs and overall health.[59] (2) The sensory modalities used during patient examination (hearing, vision, touch, smell, and taste) to gather necessary diagnostic information.[60]