A Being is a doer of eighteen mental discriminations
If we see a form with one’s eyes there will arise a perception of that form. At the same time, if this
sight is conducive towards pleasant feeling, there will arise pleasant feeling. If the sight is
conducive towards unpleasant feeling, there will arise unpleasant feeling. If the sight is not
conducive for either of the two, there will arise neutral feeling. With every perception through one
of the six sense bases that one experiences, there will arise feeling. Accordingly, there are these
three types of feeling born of contact through the eye base, ear base, nose base, tongue base,
body base and the mind base. (i.e. the six sense bases). In this way we can identify eighteen
forms of feelings. That is why the Buddha declared that a being is a doer of eighteen mental
discriminations.This takes place all the time. The most proximate cause for feeling is contact.
Contact is the coming together of form, eye and eye consciousness. Similarly for the other five
bases.