4. Sukhindriyavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 48.38

Linked Discourses 48.38

4. Sukhindriyavagga

4. The Pleasure Faculty

Tatiyavibhaṅgasutta

Analysis (3rd)

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni.

“Mendicants, there are these five faculties.

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Sukhindriyaṁ, dukkhindriyaṁ, somanassindriyaṁ, domanassindriyaṁ, upekkhindriyaṁ.

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

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of pleasure?

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

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

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of pleasure.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of pain?

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

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

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of pain.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of happiness?

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

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

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of happiness.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of sadness?

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

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

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of sadness.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of equanimity?

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

Neither pleasant nor unpleasant feeling, whether physical or mental.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ.

This is the faculty of equanimity.

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

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

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

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

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

The faculty of equanimity should be seen as neutral feeling.

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

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

Aṭṭhamaṁ.