Sparśa (Sanskrit: स्पर्श; Pali: phassa) is a Sanskrit term that is translated as "contact", "touching", "sensation", "sense impression", etc.
Sparśa is identified within the Buddhist teachings as: The Atthasālinī (Expositor, Part IV, Chapter I, 108) states: Nina van Gorkom explains: Nina van Gorkom also explains: The Abhidharma-samuccaya states: Herbert Guenther explains: The Theravada and Mahayana traditions both identify six "classes" of contact:[1][4] For example, when the ear sense and a sound object are present, the associated auditory consciousness (Pali: viññāṇa) arises.
The arising of these three elements (dhātu) – ear-sense, sound and auditory consciousness – lead to "contact" (phassa).
It is conditioned by the presence of the six sense-openings (ṣaḍāyatana), and in turn is a condition for the arising of pleasant, unpleasant or neutral 'sensations' or 'feelings' (vedanā).
Dan Lusthaus explains: Jeffrey Hopkins explains: Alexander Berzin provides an explanation of the sixth link in the context of the development of the fetus; he states: 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).