Vedanā — Feelings

This is part 8 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

The three kinds of feeling — pleasant, painful, and neutral feelings — tend to lead us immediately into the three mental poisons: attachment, disgust, and ignorance. But they don't have to.

Textbook

Read Chapter 7 of:

From Craving to Liberation: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 1 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 36.6 Salla Sutta: The Dart

SN 36.11 Rahogata Sutta: Alone (.pdf)

Similes

Hecker similes: 8, 9, and 12.

Reflections

A dart, a thorn, a strike, a fire — fast and painful, how does one avoid such afflictions? What does that tell us about feelings?

Continue to Part 9, Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings

...or go back to part 7