A Manual of the Excellent Man (bodhisatta path)

[Ben]

Hi Will

Contact is when sense data impinge on sense organ. Its the mind that responds to contact in an elaborate sequence of cittas and mental processes that follow contact.
Rebirth-linking consciousness is a bridging consciousness from the end of one life to the beginning of the next. Basically. I recommend that you get yourself a copy of Bhikkhu Bodhi's 'A Comprehensive Manual of the Abhidhamma' for more information on the internal mental processes including contact and rebirth-linking consciousness.
kind regards

Ben

[mikenz66]

Hi Will:

As Ben said, contact is when a sense object impinges on an internal sense base, leading to consciousness arising. Here is a typical paragraph fom a Sutta:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... tml#phassa

"'The six classes of contact should be known.' Thus was it said. In reference to what was it said? Dependent on the eye & forms there arises consciousness at the eye. The meeting of the three is contact. Dependent on the ear & sounds there arises consciousness at the ear. The meeting of the three is contact. Dependent on the nose & aromas there arises consciousness at the nose. The meeting of the three is contact. Dependent on the tongue & flavors there arises consciousness at the tongue. The meeting of the three is contact. Dependent on the body & tactile sensations there arises consciousness at the body. The meeting of the three is contact. Dependent on the intellect & ideas there arises consciousness at the intellect. The meeting of the three is contact. 'The six classes of contact should be known.' Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said. This is the fourth sextet.

See also: http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Bud ... htm#phassa

Mike