SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 48 Linked Discourses on the Faculties – Indriyasaṁyutta > SN 48.38 Analysis (3rd)

Linked Discourses 48.38 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 48.38

4. The Pleasure Faculty – 4. Sukhindriyavagga

SN 48.38 Analysis (3rd) – Tatiyavibhaṅgasutta

“Bhikkhū, there are these five faculties.

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni.

What five?

Katamāni pañca?

The faculties of pleasure, pain, happiness, sadness, and equanimity.

Sukhindriyaṁ, dukkhindriyaṁ, somanassindriyaṁ, domanassindriyaṁ, upekkhindriyaṁ.

And what is the faculty of pleasure?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ?

Physical enjoyment, physical pleasure, the enjoyable, pleasant feeling that’s born from physical contact.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ sukhaṁ, kāyikaṁ sātaṁ, kāyasamphassajaṁ sukhaṁ sātaṁ vedayitaṁ—

This is called the faculty of pleasure.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ.

And what is the faculty of pain?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ?

Physical pain, physical displeasure, the painful, unpleasant feeling that’s born from physical contact.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ dukkhaṁ, kāyikaṁ asātaṁ, kāyasamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ—

This is called the faculty of pain.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ.

And what is the faculty of happiness?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ?

Mental enjoyment, mental pleasure, the enjoyable, pleasant feeling that’s born from mind contact.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cetasikaṁ sukhaṁ, cetasikaṁ sātaṁ, manosamphassajaṁ sukhaṁ sātaṁ vedayitaṁ—

This is called the faculty of happiness.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ.

And what is the faculty of sadness?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ?

Mental pain, mental displeasure, the painful, unpleasant feeling that’s born from mind contact.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cetasikaṁ dukkhaṁ, cetasikaṁ asātaṁ, manosamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ—

This is called the faculty of sadness.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ.

And what is the faculty of equanimity?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ?

Neither pleasant nor unpleasant feeling, whether physical or mental.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ vā cetasikaṁ vā neva sātaṁ nāsātaṁ vedayitaṁ—

This is the faculty of equanimity.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ.

In this context, the faculties of pleasure and happiness should be seen as pleasant feeling.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yañca sukhindriyaṁ yañca somanassindriyaṁ, sukhā sā vedanā daṭṭhabbā.

The faculties of pain and sadness should be seen as painful feeling.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yañca dukkhindriyaṁ yañca domanassindriyaṁ, dukkhā sā vedanā daṭṭhabbā.

The faculty of equanimity should be seen as neutral feeling.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yadidaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ, adukkhamasukhā sā vedanā daṭṭhabbā.

That’s how these five faculties, depending on how they’re explained, having been five become three, and having been three become five.”

Iti kho, bhikkhave, imāni pañcindriyāni pañca hutvā tīṇi honti, tīṇi hutvā pañca honti pariyāyenā”ti.