MN 59

Bahuvedanīyasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati yenāyasmā udāyī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca: “kati nu kho, bhante udāyi, vedanā vuttā bhagavatā”ti? “Tisso kho, thapati, vedanā vuttā bhagavatā. Sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā— imā kho, thapati, tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā”ti. Evaṁ vutte, pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca: “na kho, bhante udāyi, tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā; dve vedanā vuttā bhagavatā— sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā. Yāyaṁ, bhante, adukkhamasukhā vedanā santasmiṁ esā paṇīte sukhe vuttā bhagavatā”ti.

The Many Kinds of Feeling

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then the chamberlain Pañcakaṅga went up to Venerable Udāyī, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, how many feelings has the Buddha spoken of?” “Chamberlain, the Buddha has spoken of three feelings: pleasant, painful, and neutral. The Buddha has spoken of these three feelings.” When he said this, Pañcakaṅga said to Udāyī, “Sir, Udāyī, the Buddha hasn’t spoken of three feelings. He’s spoken of two feelings: pleasant and painful. The Buddha said that neutral feeling is included as a peaceful and subtle kind of pleasure.”

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā udāyī pañcakaṅgaṁ thapatiṁ etadavoca: “na kho, gahapati, dve vedanā vuttā bhagavatā; tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā. Sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā— imā kho, thapati, tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā”ti. Dutiyampi kho pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca: “na kho, bhante udāyi, tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā; dve vedanā vuttā bhagavatā— sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā. Yāyaṁ, bhante, adukkhamasukhā vedanā santasmiṁ esā paṇīte sukhe vuttā bhagavatā”ti.

For a second time, Udāyī said to Pañcakaṅga, “The Buddha hasn’t spoken of two feelings, he’s spoken of three.” For a second time, Pañcakaṅga said to Udāyī, “The Buddha hasn’t spoken of three feelings, he’s spoken of two.”

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā udāyī pañcakaṅgaṁ thapatiṁ etadavoca: “na kho, thapati, dve vedanā vuttā bhagavatā; tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā. Sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā— imā kho, thapati, tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā”ti. Tatiyampi kho pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca: “na kho, bhante udāyi, tisso vedanā vuttā bhagavatā, dve vedanā vuttā bhagavatā— sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā. Yāyaṁ, bhante, adukkhamasukhā vedanā santasmiṁ esā paṇīte sukhe vuttā bhagavatā”ti. Neva kho sakkhi āyasmā udāyī pañcakaṅgaṁ thapatiṁ saññāpetuṁ, na panāsakkhi pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ saññāpetuṁ.

And for a third time, Udāyī said to Pañcakaṅga, “The Buddha hasn’t spoken of two feelings, he’s spoken of three.” And for a third time, Pañcakaṅga said to Udāyī, “The Buddha hasn’t spoken of three feelings, he’s spoken of two.” But neither was able to persuade the other.

Assosi kho āyasmā ānando āyasmato udāyissa pañcakaṅgena thapatinā saddhiṁ imaṁ kathāsallāpaṁ. Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando yāvatako ahosi āyasmato udāyissa pañcakaṅgena thapatinā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

Venerable Ānanda heard this discussion between Udāyī and Pañcakaṅga. Then he went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed the Buddha of all they had discussed. When he had spoken, the Buddha said to him,

“santaññeva kho, ānanda, pariyāyaṁ pañcakaṅgo thapati udāyissa nābbhanumodi, santaññeva ca pana pariyāyaṁ udāyī pañcakaṅgassa thapatissa nābbhanumodi. Dvepānanda, vedanā vuttā mayā pariyāyena, tissopi vedanā vuttā mayā pariyāyena, pañcapi vedanā vuttā mayā pariyāyena, chapi vedanā vuttā mayā pariyāyena, aṭṭhārasapi vedanā vuttā mayā pariyāyena, chattiṁsapi vedanā vuttā mayā pariyāyena, aṭṭhasatampi vedanā vuttā mayā pariyāyena. Evaṁ pariyāyadesito kho, ānanda, mayā dhammo. Evaṁ pariyāyadesite kho, ānanda, mayā dhamme ye aññamaññassa subhāsitaṁ sulapitaṁ na samanujānissanti na samanumaññissanti na samanumodissanti tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharissanti. Evaṁ pariyāyadesito kho, ānanda, mayā dhammo. Evaṁ pariyāyadesite kho, ānanda, mayā dhamme ye aññamaññassa subhāsitaṁ sulapitaṁ samanujānissanti samanumaññissanti samanumodissanti tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—samaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharissanti.

“Ānanda, the explanation by the mendicant Udāyī, which the chamberlain Pañcakaṅga didn’t agree with, was quite correct. But the explanation by Pañcakaṅga, which Udāyī didn’t agree with, was also quite correct. In one explanation I’ve spoken of two feelings. In another explanation I’ve spoken of three feelings, or five, six, eighteen, thirty-six, or a hundred and eight feelings. I’ve explained the teaching in all these different ways. This being so, you can expect that those who don’t concede, approve, or agree with what has been well spoken will fight, quarrel, and dispute, continually wounding each other with barbed words. I’ve explained the teaching in all these different ways. This being so, you can expect that those who do concede, approve, or agree with what has been well spoken will live in harmony, appreciating each other, without quarreling, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes.

Pañca kho ime, ānanda, kāmaguṇā. Katame pañca? Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā, sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe… ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …pe… jivhāviññeyyā rasā …pe… kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā— ime kho, ānanda, pañca kāmaguṇā. Yaṁ kho, ānanda, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ idaṁ vuccati kāmasukhaṁ.

There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds known by the ear … Smells known by the nose … Tastes known by the tongue … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called sensual pleasure.

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya: ‘etaparamaṁ sattā sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti, idamassa nānujānāmi. Taṁ kissa hetu? Atthānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There are those who might say that this is the highest pleasure and happiness that sentient beings experience. But I don’t grant them that. Why is that? Because there is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? 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. This is a pleasure that is finer than that.

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya: ‘etaparamaṁ sattā sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti, idamassa nānujānāmi. Taṁ kissa hetu? Atthānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There are those who would say that this is the highest pleasure and happiness that sentient beings experience. But I don’t grant them that. Why is that? Because there is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? 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. …

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya … pe…. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? 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.’ …

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya … pe…. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? It’s when, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. …

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya … pe…. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā, paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā, nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. …

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya … pe…. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. …

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya … pe…. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness. …

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya … pe…. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This is a pleasure that is finer than that.

Yo kho, ānanda, evaṁ vadeyya: ‘etaparamaṁ sattā sukhaṁ somanassaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti, idamassa nānujānāmi. Taṁ kissa hetu? Atthānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca. Katamañcānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca? Idhānanda, bhikkhu sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ kho, ānanda, etamhā sukhā aññaṁ sukhaṁ abhikkantatarañca paṇītatarañca.

There are those who would say that this is the highest pleasure and happiness that sentient beings experience. But I don’t grant them that. Why is that? Because there is another pleasure that is finer than that. And what is that pleasure? 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. This is a pleasure that is finer than that.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, ānanda, vijjati yaṁ aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samaṇo gotamo āha; tañca sukhasmiṁ paññapeti. Tayidaṁ kiṁsu, tayidaṁ kathaṁsū’ti? Evaṁvādino, ānanda, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā: ‘na kho, āvuso, bhagavā sukhaṁyeva vedanaṁ sandhāya sukhasmiṁ paññapeti; api ca, āvuso, yattha yattha sukhaṁ upalabbhati yahiṁ yahiṁ taṁ taṁ tathāgato sukhasmiṁ paññapetī’”ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā ānando bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say, ‘The ascetic Gotama spoke of the cessation of perception and feeling, and he includes it in happiness. What’s up with that?’ When wanderers of other religions say this, you should say to them, ‘Reverends, when the Buddha describes what’s included in happiness, he’s not just referring to pleasant feeling. The Realized One describes pleasure as included in happiness wherever it is found, and in whatever context.’” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda approved what the Buddha said.