development of the fetus; he states: The sixth of the twelve links of dependent arising. The subsidiary awareness (mental factor) of contacting awareness [sparsha] during the period of time in the development of a fetus when the distinguishing aggregate and such other affecting variables as contacting awareness are functioning, but the feeling aggregate is not yet functioning. During this period, one experiences contacting awareness of objects as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral, but does not feel happy, unhappy, or neutral in response to this. Within the five aggregates In terms of the Five Aggregates, sparśa is the implicit basis by which Form (rūpa) and Consciousness (viññāna) lead to the mental factors of Feeling (vedanā), Perception (sañña) and Formations (sankhāra). Alternate translations Contact (Erik Pema Kusang, Jeffrey Hopkins, Nina van Gorkom) Contacting awareness (Alexander Berzin) Rapport (Herbert Guenther) Sensation (Dan Lusthaus) Sense impression Touch (Jeffrey Hopkins) Touching (Jeffrey Hopkins) See also Ayatana (sense bases) Mental factors (Buddhism) Skandha (aggregates) Asparsa yoga References Sources Bhikkhu Bodhi (2003), A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, Pariyatti Publishing Dalai Lama (1992). The Meaning of Life, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, Boston: Wisdom. Dan Lusthaus, Buddhist Phenomenology Guenther, Herbert V. & Leslie S. Kawamura (1975), Mind in Buddhist Psychology: A Translation of Ye-shes rgyal-mtshan's "The Necklace of Clear Understanding" Dharma Publishing. Kindle Edition. Kunsang, Erik Pema (translator) (2004). Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1. North Atlantic Books. Nina van Gorkom (2010), Cetasikas, Zolag External links Berzin, Alexander (2006), Primary Minds and the 51 Mental Factors Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997). Paticca-samuppada-vibhanga Sutta: Analysis of Dependent Co-arising, Access to Insight U Kyaw Min (n.d.). Introducing Buddhist Abhidhamma: Meditation and Concentration Twelve nidānas Mental factors in Buddhism Sanskrit words and phrases