The Buddha explains that he has taught feelings in many ways—two, three, five, six, eighteen, thirty-six, or a hundred and eight—and that those who accept the well-spoken teaching live in harmony rather than dispute.

SN 36.20 A Mendicant

“Dvepi mayā, bhikkhave, vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, tissopi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, pañcapi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, chapi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, aṭṭhārasāpi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, chattiṁsāpi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, aṭṭhasatampi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena.

Evaṁ pariyāyadesito, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo. Evaṁ pariyāyadesite kho, bhikkhave, mayā dhamme ye aññamaññassa subhāsitaṁ sulapitaṁ na samanumaññissanti, na samanujānissanti, na samanumodissanti, tesaṁ etaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁbhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharissantīti.

Evaṁ pariyāyadesito, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo. Evaṁ pariyāyadesite kho, bhikkhave, mayā dhamme ye aññamaññassa subhāsitaṁ sulapitaṁ samanumaññissanti samanujānissanti samanumodissanti, tesaṁ etaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁsamaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharissantīti.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā …pe…

ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samaṇo gotamo āha, tañca sukhasmiṁ paññapeti. Tayidaṁ kiṁsu, tayidaṁ kathaṁsū’ti?

Evaṁvādino, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā: ‘na kho, āvuso, bhagavā sukhaññeva vedanaṁ sandhāya sukhasmiṁ paññapeti. Yattha yattha, āvuso, sukhaṁ upalabbhati yahiṁ yahiṁ, taṁ taṁ tathāgato sukhasmiṁ paññapetī’”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Rahogatavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Rahogataṁ dve ākāsaṁ,
agāraṁ dve ca ānandā;
Sambahulā duve vuttā,
pañcakaṅgo ca bhikkhunāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Dvepi mayā, bhikkhave, vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, tissopi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, pañcapi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, chapi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, aṭṭhārasāpi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, chattiṁsāpi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena, aṭṭhasatampi mayā vedanā vuttā pariyāyena.

“Mendicants, in one explanation I’ve spoken of two feelings. In another explanation I’ve spoken of three feelings, or five, six, eighteen, thirty-six, or a hundred and eight feelings.

Evaṁ pariyāyadesito, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo.

I’ve taught the Dhamma with all these explanations.

Evaṁ pariyāyadesite kho, bhikkhave, mayā dhamme ye aññamaññassa subhāsitaṁ sulapitaṁ na samanumaññissanti, na samanujānissanti, na samanumodissanti, tesaṁ etaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁbhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharissantīti.

This being so, you can expect that those who don’t concede, approve, or agree with what has been well spoken will fight, quarrel, and dispute, continually wounding each other with barbed words.

Evaṁ pariyāyadesito, bhikkhave, mayā dhammo.

I’ve taught the Dhamma with all these explanations.

Evaṁ pariyāyadesite kho, bhikkhave, mayā dhamme ye aññamaññassa subhāsitaṁ sulapitaṁ samanumaññissanti samanujānissanti samanumodissanti, tesaṁ etaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁsamaggā sammodamānā avivadamānā khīrodakībhūtā aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassantā viharissantīti.

This being so, you can expect that those who do concede, approve, or agree with what has been well spoken will live in harmony, appreciating each other, without dispute, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā …pe…

There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation. …

ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, vijjati yaṁ aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:

It’s possible that wanderers of other religions might say:

‘saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samaṇo gotamo āha, tañca sukhasmiṁ paññapeti.

‘The ascetic Gotama spoke of the cessation of perception and feeling, and he includes it in happiness.

Tayidaṁ kiṁsu, tayidaṁ kathaṁsū’ti?

What’s up with that?’

Evaṁvādino, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā:

Mendicants, when wanderers of other religions say this, you should say to them:

‘na kho, āvuso, bhagavā sukhaññeva vedanaṁ sandhāya sukhasmiṁ paññapeti.

‘Reverends, when the Buddha describes what’s included in happiness, he’s not just referring to pleasant feeling.

Yattha yattha, āvuso, sukhaṁ upalabbhati yahiṁ yahiṁ, taṁ taṁ tathāgato sukhasmiṁ paññapetī’”ti.

The Realized One describes pleasure as included in happiness wherever it is found, and in whatever context.’”

Dasamaṁ.

Rahogatavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Rahogataṁ dve ākāsaṁ,

agāraṁ dve ca ānandā;

Sambahulā duve vuttā,

pañcakaṅgo ca bhikkhunāti.

Qualities:

Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
View all discourses →
Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
View all discourses →
Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
View all discourses →
Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026