sn.36.23 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

A Certain Bhikkhu

Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Venerable sir, what now is feeling? What is the origin of feeling? What is the way leading to the origination of feeling? What is the cessation of feeling? What is the way leading to the cessation of feeling? What is the gratification in feeling? What is the danger? What is the escape?”

“There are, bhikkhu, these three feelings: pleasant feeling, painful feeling, neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. This is called feeling. With the arising of contact there is the arising of feeling. Craving is the way leading to the origination of feeling. With the cessation of contact there is the cessation of feeling. This Noble Eightfold Path is the way leading to the cessation of feeling; that is, right view … right concentration.

“The pleasure and joy that arise in dependence on feeling: this is the gratification in feeling. That feeling is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change: this is the danger in feeling. The removal and abandonment of desire and lust for feeling: this is the escape from feeling.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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With a Mendicant

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, what is feeling? What’s the origin of feeling? What’s the practice that leads to the origin of feeling?
What’s the cessation of feeling? What’s the practice that leads to the cessation of feeling?
And what is feeling’s gratification, drawback, and escape?”
“Mendicant, there are these three feelings:
pleasant, painful, and neutral.
These are called feeling.
Feeling originates from contact.
Craving is the practice that leads to the origin of feeling.
When contact ceases, feeling ceases.
The practice that leads to the cessation of feelings is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:
right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.
The pleasure and happiness that arise from feeling: this is its gratification.
That feeling is impermanent, suffering, and perishable: this is its drawback.
Removing and giving up desire and greed for feeling: this is its escape.”