SN 36 · 31 texts · 31 in English
Linked Discourses on Feelings
Vedanāsaṁyutta
The “Linked Discourses on Feelings” contains 31 discourses on the three kinds of feeling. In Sinhalese-script manuscripts, this is reckoned as the last portion of the section on six sense fields. The term “feelings” renders vedanā, which is the simple affective or hedonic tone of experience as pleasant, painful, and neutral, rather than the complex states we call “emotions”. In the process of experience, feeling emerges from sense contact, and stimulates craving. One of the aims of mental development is to first loosen, then eliminate that second link, so that one still has feelings, but does not experience craving for them. The current collection includes a number of rich and significant discourses on this theme.
The Chapter with Verses
Sagāthāvagga-
SN 36.1
ImmersionSamādhisutta
There are three feelings, and a meditator practicing immersion can understand them.
-
SN 36.2
PleasureSukhasutta
There are three feelings, and all of them are suffering.
-
SN 36.3
Giving UpPahānasutta
One should give up desire for pleasant feeling, aversion for painful feeling, and ignorance regarding neutral feeling.
-
SN 36.4
The AbyssPātālasutta
Ordinary people think the ocean is a bottomless abyss; but really, it is the three feelings.
-
SN 36.5
Should Be SeenDaṭṭhabbasutta
See pleasant feeling as painful, painful feeling as a dart, and neutral feeling as impermanent.
-
SN 36.6
An ArrowSallasutta
Both ordinary and awakened people experience the three feelings. The difference is that when an ordinary person is stricken with feeling, they react, creating more suffering, whereas an awakened person responds with equanimity.
-
SN 36.7
The Infirmary (1st)Paṭhamagelaññasutta
A mendicant should await their death mindful and aware. They should bear the feelings of approaching death with wisdom and equanimity.
-
SN 36.8
The Infirmary (2nd)Dutiyagelaññasutta
A mendicant should await their death mindful and aware. They should bear the feelings of approaching death with wisdom and equanimity.
-
SN 36.9
ImpermanentAniccasutta
The three feelings are impermanent.
-
SN 36.10
Rooted in ContactPhassamūlakasutta
The three feelings are each produced by the appropriate contact.
The Chapter on In Private
Rahogatavagga-
SN 36.11
In PrivateRahogatasutta
A mendicant wonders how there can be three kinds of feeling, yet all of them are suffering.
-
SN 36.12
In the Atmosphere (1st)Paṭhamaākāsasutta
Feelings arise in the body like winds blowing in the sky. With illustrative verses.
-
SN 36.13
In the Atmosphere (2nd)Dutiyaākāsasutta
Feelings arise in the body like winds blowing in the sky.
-
SN 36.14
A Guest HouseAgārasutta
Feelings arise in the body like guests in a hotel.
-
SN 36.15
With Ānanda (1st)Paṭhamaānandasutta
The Buddha explains the feelings to Ānanda in terms of arising, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape.
-
SN 36.16
With Ānanda (2nd)Dutiyaānandasutta
The Buddha asks about the feelings to Ānanda in terms of arising, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape.
-
SN 36.17
With Several Mendicants (1st)Paṭhamasambahulasutta
The Buddha explains the feelings to several mendicants in terms of arising, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape.
-
SN 36.18
With Several Mendicants (2nd)Dutiyasambahulasutta
The Buddha asks about the feelings to several mendicants in terms of arising, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape.
-
SN 36.19
With PañcakaṅgaPañcakaṅgasutta
The chamberlain Pañcakaṅga disagreed with Venerable Udāyī about how many kinds of feeling the Buddha taught. The Buddha affirms that each is a genuine teaching, valid in different contexts.
-
SN 36.20
A MendicantBhikkhusutta
The Buddha has taught many different kinds of feeling, valid in different contexts.
The Chapter on the Explanation of the Hundred and Eight
Aṭṭhasatapariyāyavagga-
SN 36.21
With SīvakaSīvakasutta
When the wanderer Moḷiyasīvaka asks if all feelings are caused by karma in past lives. The Buddha denies this, asserting that feelings have many different causes.
-
SN 36.22
The Explanation of the Hundred and EightAṭṭhasatasutta
The Buddha explains the different kinds of feelings analyzed into 108 aspects.
-
SN 36.23
With a MendicantAññatarabhikkhusutta
A mendicant asks the Buddha to explain the feelings in terms of the four noble truths.
-
SN 36.24
BeforePubbasutta
Before his awakening the Buddha reflected on feeling in terms of arising, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape.
-
SN 36.25
KnowledgeÑāṇasutta
At his awakening, the Buddha saw feeling in terms of arising, ending, gratification, drawback, and escape.
-
SN 36.26
With Several MendicantsSambahulabhikkhusutta
Several mendicants ask the Buddha to explain the feelings in terms of the four noble truths.
-
SN 36.27
Ascetics and Brahmins (1st)Paṭhamasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta
One who does not truly understand feeling is no true ascetic.
-
SN 36.28
Ascetics and Brahmins (2nd)Dutiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta
One who does not truly understand feeling is no true ascetic.
-
SN 36.29
Ascetics and Brahmins (3rd)Tatiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta
One who does not truly understand feeling is no true ascetic.
-
SN 36.30
Plain VersionSuddhikasutta
There are three feelings: painful, pleasant, neutral.
-
SN 36.31
Not of the FleshNirāmisasutta
The Buddha explains feelings as spiritual and carnal, associated with worldly states and with deep meditation.