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SN 48.40PTS SN 5.2134 min read

Irregular Order

Uppaṭipāṭikasutta

The five faculties of pleasure, pain, happiness, sadness, and equanimity are taught in a detailed exposition that treats them in an unusual order. The abandoning of each is related to the attainment of a particular meditative absorption.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 48.40Linked Discourses 48.40
  • 0.24. Sukhindriyavagga4. The Pleasure Faculty

0.3UppaṭipāṭikasuttaIrregular Order

1.1“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni.“Mendicants, there are these five faculties.11.2Katamāni pañca?What five?1.3Dukkhindriyaṁ, domanassindriyaṁ, sukhindriyaṁ, somanassindriyaṁ, upekkhindriyaṁ.The faculties of pain, sadness, pleasure, happiness, and equanimity.

1.4Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato uppajjati dukkhindriyaṁ.While a mendicant is meditating—diligent, keen, and resolute—the faculty of pain arises.21.5So evaṁ pajānāti:They understand:1.6‘uppannaṁ kho me idaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ, tañca kho sanimittaṁ sanidānaṁ sasaṅkhāraṁ sappaccayaṁ.‘The faculty of pain has arisen in me. And that has a basis, a source, a condition, and a reason.31.7Tañca animittaṁ anidānaṁ asaṅkhāraṁ appaccayaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ uppajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.It’s not possible that the faculty of pain will arise without a basis, a source, a condition, or a reason.’1.8So dukkhindriyañca pajānāti, dukkhindriyasamudayañca pajānāti, dukkhindriyanirodhañca pajānāti, yattha cuppannaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati tañca pajānāti.They understand the faculty of pain, its origin, its cessation, and where that faculty of pain that’s arisen ceases without remainder.1.9Kattha cuppannaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati?And where does that faculty of pain that’s arisen cease without remainder?1.10Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati,It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.1.11ettha cuppannaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati.That’s where the faculty of pain that’s arisen ceases without remainder.1.12Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aññāsi dukkhindriyassa nirodhaṁ, tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati’.They’re called a mendicant who understands the cessation of the faculty of pain, and who applies their mind to that end.

2.1PTS 5.214Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato uppajjati domanassindriyaṁ.While a mendicant is meditating—diligent, keen, and resolute—the faculty of sadness arises.42.2So evaṁ pajānāti:They understand:2.3‘uppannaṁ kho me idaṁ domanassindriyaṁ, tañca kho sanimittaṁ sanidānaṁ sasaṅkhāraṁ sappaccayaṁ.‘The faculty of sadness has arisen in me. And that has a basis, a source, a condition, and a reason.2.4tañca animittaṁ anidānaṁ asaṅkhāraṁ appaccayaṁ domanassindriyaṁ uppajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.It’s not possible that the faculty of sadness will arise without a basis, a source, a condition, or a reason.’2.5So domanassindriyañca pajānāti, domanassindriyasamudayañca pajānāti, domanassindriyanirodhañca pajānāti, yattha cuppannaṁ domanassindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati tañca pajānāti.They understand the faculty of sadness, its origin, its cessation, and where that faculty of sadness that’s arisen ceases without remainder.2.6Kattha cuppannaṁ domanassindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati?And where does that faculty of sadness that’s arisen cease without remainder?2.7Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati,It’s when, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.2.8ettha cuppannaṁ domanassindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati.That’s where the faculty of sadness that’s arisen ceases without remainder.2.9Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aññāsi domanassindriyassa nirodhaṁ, tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati’.They’re called a mendicant who understands the cessation of the faculty of sadness, and who applies their mind to that end.

3.1Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ.While a mendicant is meditating—diligent, keen, and resolute—the faculty of pleasure arises.53.2So evaṁ pajānāti:They understand:3.3‘uppannaṁ kho me idaṁ sukhindriyaṁ, tañca kho sanimittaṁ sanidānaṁ sasaṅkhāraṁ sappaccayaṁ.‘The faculty of pleasure has arisen in me. And that has a basis, a source, a condition, and a reason.3.4tañca animittaṁ anidānaṁ asaṅkhāraṁ appaccayaṁ sukhindriyaṁ uppajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.It’s not possible that the faculty of pleasure will arise without a basis, a source, a condition, or a reason.’3.5So sukhindriyañca pajānāti, sukhindriyasamudayañca pajānāti, sukhindriyanirodhañca pajānāti, yattha cuppannaṁ sukhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati tañca pajānāti.They understand the faculty of pleasure, its origin, its cessation, and where that faculty of pleasure that’s arisen ceases without remainder.3.6Kattha cuppannaṁ sukhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati?And where does that faculty of pleasure that’s arisen cease without remainder?3.7Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati,It’s when, with the fading away of rapture, a mendicant enters and remains in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’3.8ettha cuppannaṁ sukhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati.That’s where the faculty of pleasure that’s arisen ceases without remainder.3.9Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aññāsi sukhindriyassa nirodhaṁ, tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati’.They’re called a mendicant who understands the cessation of the faculty of pleasure, and who applies their mind to that end.

4.1PTS 5.215Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato uppajjati somanassindriyaṁ.While a mendicant is meditating—diligent, keen, and resolute—the faculty of happiness arises.4.2So evaṁ pajānāti:They understand:4.3‘uppannaṁ kho me idaṁ somanassindriyaṁ, tañca kho sanimittaṁ sanidānaṁ sasaṅkhāraṁ sappaccayaṁ.‘The faculty of happiness has arisen in me. And that has a basis, a source, a condition, and a reason.4.4tañca animittaṁ anidānaṁ asaṅkhāraṁ appaccayaṁ somanassindriyaṁ uppajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.It’s not possible that the faculty of happiness will arise without a basis, a source, a condition, or a reason.’4.5So somanassindriyañca pajānāti, somanassindriyasamudayañca pajānāti, somanassindriyanirodhañca pajānāti, yattha cuppannaṁ somanassindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati tañca pajānāti.They understand the faculty of happiness, its origin, its cessation, and where that faculty of happiness that’s arisen ceases without remainder.4.6Kattha cuppannaṁ somanassindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati?And where does that faculty of happiness that’s arisen cease without remainder?4.7Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati,It’s when, giving up pleasure and pain, and disappearance former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.4.8ettha cuppannaṁ somanassindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati.That’s where the faculty of happiness that’s arisen ceases without remainder.4.9Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aññāsi somanassindriyassa nirodhaṁ, tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharati’.They’re called a mendicant who understands the cessation of the faculty of happiness, and who applies their mind to that end.

5.1PTS 5.216Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ.While a mendicant is meditating—diligent, keen, and resolute—the faculty of equanimity arises.5.2So evaṁ pajānāti:They understand:5.3‘uppannaṁ kho me idaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ, tañca kho sanimittaṁ sanidānaṁ sasaṅkhāraṁ sappaccayaṁ.‘The faculty of equanimity has arisen in me. And that has a basis, a source, a condition, and a reason.5.4tañca animittaṁ anidānaṁ asaṅkhāraṁ appaccayaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ uppajjissatī’ti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.It’s not possible that the faculty of equanimity will arise without a basis, a source, a condition, or a reason.’5.5So upekkhindriyañca pajānāti, upekkhindriyasamudayañca pajānāti, upekkhindriyanirodhañca pajānāti, yattha cuppannaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati tañca pajānāti.They understand the faculty of equanimity, its origin, its cessation, and where that faculty of equanimity that’s arisen ceases without remainder.5.6Kattha cuppannaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati?And where does that faculty of equanimity that’s arisen cease without remainder?5.7Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati,It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling.5.8ettha cuppannaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ aparisesaṁ nirujjhati.That’s where the faculty of equanimity that’s arisen ceases without remainder.5.9Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu aññāsi upekkhindriyassa nirodhaṁ, tadatthāya cittaṁ upasaṁharatī’”ti.They’re called a mendicant who understands the cessation of the faculty of equanimity, and who applies their mind to that end.”

5.10Dasamaṁ.

5.11Sukhindriyavaggo catuttho.

6.0Tassuddānaṁ

6.1Suddhikañca soto arahā,6.2duve samaṇabrāhmaṇā;6.3Vibhaṅgena tayo vuttā,6.4kaṭṭho uppaṭipāṭikanti.

Translator’s notes

  1. Here the faculties are correlated with the absorptions, highlighting the connection between the feelings and the practice of the path.

    The title, according to the commentary, refers to the fact that the faculties are presented in the order in which they are abandoned through the development of absorption, rather than in the normal teaching sequence.

    ↩ sn48.40:1.1
  2. They experience pain in the body while meditating.

    Each section pivots on the use of the verb uppajjati (“arise”) in present tense, past participle, and future tense.

    ↩ sn48.40:1.4
  3. Here nimitta clearly means “basis”, as also at eg. AN 2.77.

    ↩ sn48.40:1.6
  4. The sense of this is unclear. Perhaps as the meditator’s first absorption weakens they become conscious of how close the suffering of the sensory world is, and long for higher states. The commentary, instead, connects this sadness with the vitakka and vicāra that are still operating at this point. These are not in themselves unpleasant, but perhaps they are considered so because they are relatively unpeaceful.

    ↩ sn48.40:2.1
  5. Here the faculty of “pleasure” (sukha) seems to be equated with “rapture” (pīti), and “happiness” (somanassa) with “bliss” (also sukha).

    ↩ sn48.40:3.1