Spraṣṭavya

Spraṣṭavya (P. phoṭṭhabba; T. reg bya རེག་བྱ་; C. suochu 所觸) is translated as "tangible objects," "objects of touch," etc.

Spraṣṭavya (tangible objects) are the objects of the body faculty, and are cognized by the body consciousness.

Spraṣṭavya (tangible objects) are identified as:

• one of the five sense objects
• one of the six sense objects
• one of the eighteen dhatus
• one of the twelve ayatanas
• belonging to rupa skandha (the aggregate of forms)

Explanation

Sanskrit tradition

The Khenjuk states:

Tangible objects are the sense objects of the body. There are the tangible objects of the four causal forms, and the seven tangible objects of the resultant forms, which are smoothness, roughness, heaviness, lightness, and [the inner physical sensations of] hunger, thirst and cold. There are also the tangible objects of being supple, yielding or rigid, and [the inner physical sensations of feeling] sated, ill, aged, dying, rested, and bold. Bold means feeling fearless, not shying away due to [one's own] bodily strength.

As indicated by these, please understand that there are numerous ways of experiencing external and internal bodily tangible objects.

Pali tradition

A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma states:

Objective material phenomena (gocararūpa) are the five sense fields which serve as the objective supports for the corresponding types of sense consciousness. It should be noted that the tangible object is constituted by three of the great essentials: the earth element, experienced as hardness or softness; the fire element, experienced as heat or cold; and the air element, experienced as pressure. The water element, being the principle of cohesion, is not, according to the Abhidhamma, included in the tangible datum. The other four sense objects—visible forms, etc.—are types of derived matter. Collectively, objective material phenomena have the characteristic of impinging on the sense bases. Their function is to be the objects of sense consciousness. They are manifested as the resort of the respective sense consciousness. Their proximate cause is the four great essentials.

Sources

• Bhikkhu Bodhi, ed. (2000), A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, Pariyatti Publishing 
• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• Mipham Rinpoche (2004), Gateway to Knowledge, vol. I, translated by Kunsang, Erik Pema, Rangjung Yeshe Publications