Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.8.9 Pahānasuttaṃ¹

There are, Bhikkhus, three kinds of sensations. And what are these three kinds? There are pleasant sensations, unpleasant sensations, and neutral, neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant sensations.

In the case of pleasant sensations, Bhikkhus, the dormant tendency towards greed should be given up; in the case of unpleasant sensations, the dormant tendency towards aversion should be given up; in the case of neutral, neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant sensations, the dormant tendency towards ignorance should be given up.

If a Bhikkhu has given up the tendency towards greed in regard to pleasant sensations, the tendency to aversion in regard to unpleasant sensations, and the tendency to ignorance in regard to neutral, neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant sensations, then he is called one who is free of unwholesome tendencies, one who is of perfect understanding, one who has cut off craving, one who has broken the bondages and one who has thoroughly comprehended conceit. He has thus made an end of suffering.

If one experiences happiness, but does not properly understand the nature of sensations,

And the tendency towards greed remains, such a one will not find escape thereof.

If one experiences suffering, but does not properly understand the nature of sensations,

And the tendency towards aversion remains, such a one will not find escape thereof.

And even neutral, neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant sensations,

Seemingly as peaceful, as the One of Wisdom has declared,

If one delights therein, he will not find release from suffering.

But a Bhikkhu, who is ardent and does not neglect constant thorough understanding of impermanence,

Then such a wise man fully understands sensations in their entirety.

Having thus comprehended sensations, free from taints in this very life,

And firmly established in Dhamma,

When his life-span comes to end and his body breaks,

He attains a stage beyond all measures.

***