Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.8.8 Realizing vedanā and Going Beyond: Saṅkhyaṃ nopeti vedagūs 

Paṭhamaākāsasutta¹

     ‘‘Just as, Bhikkhus, in the sky blow various winds:

     There are winds that blow from the east, winds that blow from the west, winds that blow from the north and winds that blow from the south. Winds that blow with dust and dustless winds, cold winds that blow and hot winds blow, winds blow that are mild and winds that are very strong.

     In the same way, Bhikkhus, in this very body different sensations arise:

     a pleasant sensation arises, an unpleasant sensation arises and a neither pleasant nor unpleasant, neutral sensation arises.”

“Just as winds blow in the sky, different and numerous,

From the east and from the west, from north and south alike,

Dusty and dustless, cold and hot at times,

Extremely strong or with a gentle breeze,

Of different character are all these various winds that blow,

So also sensations arise in this very body here,

Pleasant, unpleasant and neither pleasant nor unpleasant, neutral ones.

 

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

Such a wise man fully understands sensations in their entirety.

Having thus comprehended sensations, he remains 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.”

 

 Agārasutta²

     ‘‘Imagine, Bhikkhus, a guesthouse.

     Visitors having arrived from the eastern direction lodge there, visitors having arrived from the western direction lodge there, visitors having arrived from the northern direction lodge there and visitors having arrived from the southern direction lodge there.

     Likewise, Khattiyas having arrived lodge there, Brāhmaṇas having arrived lodge there, Vessas having arrived lodge there and Suddhas having arrived lodge there.

     In the same way, Bhikkhus, in this very body different sensations arise, a pleasant sensation arises, an unpleasant sensation arises and a neither pleasant nor unpleasant, neutral sensation arises.

     Likewise arises a pleasant sensation with attachment, an unpleasant sensation arises with attachment and a neither pleasant nor unpleasant, neutral sensation arises with attachment.

     Further arises a pleasant sensation without attachment, an unpleasant sensation arises without attachment and a neither pleasant nor unpleasant, neutral sensation arises without attachment.”

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