Light/Dark

Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Linked Discourses

Vol 1:
Verses
SN1-11
Vol 2:
Causation
SN12-21
Vol 3:
Aggregates
SN22-34
Vol 4:
Sense Bases
SN35-44
Vol 5:
Great Book
SN45-56

36. Vedanāsaṁyutta: On Feelings

I. With Verses — SN36.3: Giving Up

1“Mendicants, there are these three feelings. What three?

Pleasant, painful, and neutral feeling.

The underlying tendency to greed should be given up when it comes to pleasant feeling. The underlying tendency to repulsion should be given up when it comes to painful feeling. The underlying tendency to ignorance should be given up when it comes to neutral feeling.

When a mendicant has given up these underlying tendencies, they’re called a mendicant without underlying tendencies, who sees rightly, has cut off craving, untied the fetters, and by rightly comprehending conceit has made an end of suffering.


2When you feel pleasure
without understanding feeling,
the underlying tendency to greed is there,
if you don’t see the escape.

3When you feel pain
without understanding feeling,
the underlying tendency to repulsion is there,
if you don’t see the escape.

4As for that peaceful, neutral feeling:
he of vast wisdom has taught
that if you relish it,
you’re still not released from suffering.

5But when a mendicant is keen,
not neglecting situational awareness,
that astute person
understands all feelings.

6Completely understanding feelings,
they’re without defilements in this very life.
That knowledge-master is grounded in the teaching;
when their body breaks up, they can’t be reckoned.”

1"Tisso imā, bhikkhave, vedanā. Katamā tisso?

Sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā.

Sukhāya, bhikkhave, vedanāya rāgānusayo pahātabbo, dukkhāya vedanāya paṭighānusayo pahātabbo, adukkhamasukhāya vedanāya avijjānusayo pahātabbo.

Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno sukhāya vedanāya rāgānusayo pahīno hoti, dukkhāya vedanāya paṭighānusayo pahīno hoti, adukkhamasukhāya vedanāya avijjānusayo pahīno hoti, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu niranusayo sammaddaso acchecchi taṇhāṁ, vivattayi saṁyojanaṁ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassā’ti.


2Sukhaṁ vedayamānassa,
vedanāṁ appajānato;
So rāgānusayo hoti,
anissaraṇadassino.

3Dukkhaṁ vedayamānassa,
vedanāṁ appajānato;
Paṭighānusayo hoti,
anissaraṇadassino.

4Adukkhamasukhaṁ santaṁ,
bhūripaññena desitaṁ;
Tañcāpi abhinandati,
neva dukkhā pamuccati.

5Yato ca bhikkhu ātāpī,
sampajaññaṁ na riñcati;
Tato so vedanā sabbā,
parijānāti paṇḍito.

6So vedanā pariññāya,
diṭṭhe dhamme anāsavo;
Kāyassa bhedā dhammaṭṭho,
saṅkhyaṁ nopeti vedagū"ti.

Tatiyaṁ.