[SoOW2LeA]

Nibbedhika Sutta (AN 6.63) states that "contact" is the cause bye which sensuality comes into play.

hi

we must always take care whenever the word "cause" is used because in Pali there are many words that are translated into "cause", often incorrectly

there is hetu (preceding cause), paccaya (condition) and samudhaya (origination; arising)

in the case of AN 6.63, the Pali is the unusual nidānasambhava

Nidāna (nt.) [Sk. nidāna, ni+*dāna of dā, dyati to bind, cp. Gr. de/sma, dh_ma (fetter) & see dāma] (a) (n.) tying down to; ground (lit. or fig.), foundation, occasion; source, origin, cause; reason, reference, subject

Sambhava [saŋ+bhava] 1. origin, birth, production both of these words are found in a small part of MN 38

Cattārome, bhikkhave, āhārā bhūtānaṃ vā sattānaṃ ṭhitiyā, sambhavesīnaṃ vā anuggahāya. Katame cattāro? Kabaḷīkāro āhāro oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, phasso dutiyo, manosañcetanā tatiyā, viññāṇaṃ catutthaṃ.

Ime ca, bhikkhave, cattāro āhārā kiṃnidānā kiṃsamudayā kiṃjātikā kiṃpabhavā?

Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of nutriment (àhàra) for the maintenance (ñhiti) of beings that
already have come to be and for the entry of those seeking birth. What four? They are: physical food
(kabaliïkàra) as nutriment, gross or subtle; contact (phassa) as the second; mental volition
(manosacetanà) as the third; and consciousness (vinnàna) as the fourth.

Now, bhikkhus, what do these four kinds of nutriment have as their ground (nidàna) and their origin
(samudaya), from what are they born (jàti) and produced (pabhava)? These four kinds of nutriment
have craving (taõhà) as their ground and their origin; they are born and produced from craving.

by Patrick Kearney in his most recent translation of MN 38, Bhikkhu Bodhi uses the word "source" for "nidana"

Bhikkhu Bodhi also uses "source" for nidana in SN 14.12

sanidānaṃ, bhikkhave, uppajjati kāmavitakko, no anidānaṃ; sanidānaṃ uppajjati byāpādavitakko, no anidānaṃ; sanidānaṃ uppajjati vihiṃsāvitakko, no anidānaṃ

Bhikkhus, sensual thoughts arise with a source, not without a source; thought of ill will arises with a source, not without a source; thought of harming arises with a source, not without a source. And how is this so?

In dependence on the sensuality element there arises sensual perception; in dependence on the sensual perception there arises sensual intention; in dependence on the sensual intention there arises sensual desire; in dependence on the sensual desire there arises sensual passion; in dependence on the sensual passion there arises a sensual quest. Engaged in a sensual quest, the uninstructed worldling conducts himself wrongly in three ways - with body, speech and mind.

In dependence on the ill will element there arises perception of ill will...

In dependence on the cruelty element there arises perception of harming... in his translation of AN 6.63 Bhikkhu Buddhadasa used the word "birthplace" for nidānasambhava

Bhikkhus, what is the birthplace (nidānasambhava) of those actions? The birthplace of those actions is contact (phassa).

Karma From His Own Lips the point is, as shown by SN 14.12, contact is not the cause of sensuality. sensuality is an element (dhatu), an underlying tendency (anusaya) and an outflow (asava). sensuality is not "caused" by contact.

as AN 6.63 states: "Contact is the source by which sensuality comes into play."

with metta

element