• Linked Discourses 36.17 Saṁyutta Nikāya 36.17

2. In Private 2. Rahogatavagga

With Several Mendicants (1st) Paį¹­hamasambahulasutta

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhÅ« yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kamiṁsu; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisÄ«diṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhÅ« bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

ā€œSir, what is feeling? What’s the origin of feeling? What’s the cessation of feeling? What’s the practice that leads to the cessation of feeling? ā€œkatamā nu kho, bhante, vedanā, katamo vedanāsamudayo, katamo vedanānirodho, katamā vedanānirodhagāminÄ« paį¹­ipadā? And what is feeling’s gratification, drawback, and escape?ā€ Ko vedanāya assādo, ko ādÄ«navo, kiṁ nissaraṇanā€ti?

ā€œMendicants, there are these three feelings: ā€œTisso imā, bhikkhave, vedanā—pleasant, painful, and neutral. sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā—These are called feelings. imā vuccanti, bhikkhave, vedanā.

Feeling originates from contact. Phassasamudayā vedanāsamudayo; When contact ceases, feeling ceases. phassanirodhā vedanānirodho.

The practice that leads to the cessation of feelings is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: Ayameva ariyo aį¹­į¹­haį¹…giko maggo vedanānirodhagāminÄ« paį¹­ipadā, seyyathidaṁ—right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. sammādiį¹­į¹­hi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

The pleasure and happiness that arise from feeling: this is its gratification. Yaṁ vedanaṁ paį¹­icca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ, ayaṁ vedanāya assādo. That feeling is impermanent, suffering, and perishable: this is its drawback. Yaṁ vedanā aniccā dukkhā vipariṇāmadhammā, ayaṁ vedanāya ādÄ«navo. Removing and giving up desire and greed for feeling: this is its escape. Yo vedanāya chandarāgavinayo chandarāgappahānaṁ, idaṁ vedanāya nissaraṇaṁ.

But I have also explained the progressive cessation of activities. … Atha kho pana, bhikkhave, mayā anupubbasaį¹…khārānaṁ nirodho akkhāto. For someone who has attained the first absorption, speech has ceased. … Paį¹­hamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vācā niruddhā hoti …pe… For a mendicant who has ended the defilements, greed, hate, and delusion have ceased. khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgo niruddho hoti, doso niruddho hoti, moho niruddho hoti. And I have also explained the progressive settling of activities. Atha kho pana, bhikkhave, mayā anupubbasaį¹…khārānaṁ vÅ«pasamo akkhāto. For someone who has attained the first absorption, speech has stilled. … Paį¹­hamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vācā vÅ«pasantā hoti …pe… For a mendicant who has ended the defilements, greed, hate, and delusion have stilled. khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgo vÅ«pasanto hoti, doso vÅ«pasanto hoti, moho vÅ«pasanto hoti. There are these six levels of tranquility. Chayimā, bhikkhave, passaddhiyo. For someone who has attained the first absorption, speech has been tranquilized. Paį¹­hamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vācā paį¹­ippassaddhā hoti. For someone who has attained the second absorption, the placing of the mind and keeping it connected have been tranquilized. Dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vitakkavicārā paį¹­ippassaddhā honti. For someone who has attained the third absorption, rapture has been tranquilized. Tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa pÄ«ti paį¹­ippassaddhā hoti. For someone who has attained the fourth absorption, breathing has been tranquilized. Catutthaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa assāsapassāsā paį¹­ippassaddhā honti. For someone who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling, perception and feeling have been tranquilized. SaƱƱāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpannassa saƱƱā ca vedanā ca paį¹­ippassaddhā honti.

For a mendicant who has ended the defilements, greed, hate, and delusion have been tranquilized.ā€ Khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgo paį¹­ippassaddho hoti, doso paį¹­ippassaddho hoti, moho paį¹­ippassaddho hotÄ«ā€ti.