The Buddha teaches on feelings regarding the abyss, analyzing pleasant, painful, and neutral feeling for insight, disenchantment, and release from suffering.

SN 36.4 The Abyss

“Assutavā, bhikkhave, puthujjano yaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati: ‘atthi mahāsamudde pātālo’ti. Taṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano asantaṁ avijjamānaṁ evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati: ‘atthi mahāsamudde pātālo’ti.

Sārīrikānaṁ kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhānaṁ vedanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ yadidaṁ ‘pātālo’ti.

Assutavā, bhikkhave, puthujjano sārīrikāya dukkhāya vedanāya phuṭṭho samāno socati kilamati paridevati urattāḷiṁ kandati sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘assutavā puthujjano pātāle na paccuṭṭhāsi, gādhañca nājjhagā’.

Sutavā ca kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sārīrikāya dukkhāya vedanāya phuṭṭho samāno neva socati, na kilamati, na paridevati, na urattāḷiṁ kandati, na sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘sutavā ariyasāvako pātāle paccuṭṭhāsi, gādhañca ajjhagā’ti.

Yo etā nādhivāseti,
uppannā vedanā dukhā;
Sārīrikā pāṇaharā,
yāhi phuṭṭho pavedhati.

Akkandati parodati,
dubbalo appathāmako;
Na so pātāle paccuṭṭhāsi,
atho gādhampi nājjhagā.

Yo cetā adhivāseti,
uppannā vedanā dukhā;
Sārīrikā pāṇaharā,
yāhi phuṭṭho na vedhati;
Sa ve pātāle paccuṭṭhāsi,
atho gādhampi ajjhagā”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Assutavā, bhikkhave, puthujjano yaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati:

“Mendicants, when an unlearned ordinary person says that

‘atthi mahāsamudde pātālo’ti.

there’s an abyss under the ocean,

Taṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano asantaṁ avijjamānaṁ evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati:

they’re speaking of something that doesn’t exist.

‘atthi mahāsamudde pātālo’ti.

Sārīrikānaṁ kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhānaṁ vedanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ yadidaṁ ‘pātālo’ti.

‘Abyss’ is a term for painful physical feelings.

Assutavā, bhikkhave, puthujjano sārīrikāya dukkhāya vedanāya phuṭṭho samāno socati kilamati paridevati urattāḷiṁ kandati sammohaṁ āpajjati.

When an unlearned ordinary person experiences painful physical feelings they sorrow and wail and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘assutavā puthujjano pātāle na paccuṭṭhāsi, gādhañca nājjhagā’.

They’re called an unlearned ordinary person who hasn’t stood up in the abyss and has found no footing.

Sutavā ca kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sārīrikāya dukkhāya vedanāya phuṭṭho samāno neva socati, na kilamati, na paridevati, na urattāḷiṁ kandati, na sammohaṁ āpajjati.

When a learned noble disciple experiences painful physical feelings they don’t sorrow or wail or lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘sutavā ariyasāvako pātāle paccuṭṭhāsi, gādhañca ajjhagā’ti.

They’re called a learned noble disciple who has stood up in the abyss and found a footing.

Yo etā nādhivāseti,

If you can’t abide

uppannā vedanā dukhā;

those painful physical feelings

Sārīrikā pāṇaharā,

that arise and sap your vitality;

yāhi phuṭṭho pavedhati.

if you tremble at their touch,

Akkandati parodati,

weeping and wailing,

dubbalo appathāmako;

a weakling lacking strength—

Na so pātāle paccuṭṭhāsi,

you won’t stand up in the abyss

atho gādhampi nājjhagā.

and find a footing.

Yo cetā adhivāseti,

If you can endure

uppannā vedanā dukhā;

those painful physical feelings

Sārīrikā pāṇaharā,

that arise and sap your vitality;

yāhi phuṭṭho na vedhati;

if you don’t tremble at their touch—

Sa ve pātāle paccuṭṭhāsi,

you stand up in the abyss

atho gādhampi ajjhagā”ti.

and find a footing.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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Lamentation

Lamentation

The verbal and bodily expression of grief—crying, wailing, and mourning—that arises from loss or separation from what is held dear. It gives voice to sorrow and can deepen the mind's entanglement with pain.

Also known as: crying, wailing, mourning
Pāli: parideva
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Sorrow

Sorrow

Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.

Also known as: grief, sadness
Pāli: soka, socati
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Last updated on July 27, 2026