The Buddha teaches on the five spiritual faculties regarding analysis (1st), guiding mendicants in developing faith through wisdom on the path to liberation.

SN 48.36 Analysis (1st)

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni. Katamāni pañca? Sukhindriyaṁ, dukkhindriyaṁ, somanassindriyaṁ, domanassindriyaṁ, upekkhindriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ? Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ sukhaṁ, kāyikaṁ sātaṁ, kāyasamphassajaṁ sukhaṁ sātaṁ vedayitaṁ idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ? Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ dukkhaṁ, kāyikaṁ asātaṁ, kāyasamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ? Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cetasikaṁ sukhaṁ, cetasikaṁ sātaṁ, manosamphassajaṁ sukhaṁ sātaṁ vedayitaṁ idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ? Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cetasikaṁ dukkhaṁ, cetasikaṁ asātaṁ, manosamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ? Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ cetasikaṁ nevasātaṁ nāsātaṁ vedayitaṁ idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcindriyānī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni.

“Mendicants, there are these five faculties.

Katamāni pañca?

What five?

Sukhindriyaṁ, dukkhindriyaṁ, somanassindriyaṁ, domanassindriyaṁ, upekkhindriyaṁ.

The faculties of pleasure, pain, happiness, sadness, and equanimity.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of pleasure?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ sukhaṁ, kāyikaṁ sātaṁ, kāyasamphassajaṁ sukhaṁ sātaṁ vedayitaṁ

Physical enjoyment, physical pleasure, the enjoyable, pleasant feeling that’s born from physical contact.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sukhindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of pleasure.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of pain?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ dukkhaṁ, kāyikaṁ asātaṁ, kāyasamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ

Physical pain, physical unpleasantness, the painful, unpleasant feeling that’s born from physical contact.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of pain.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of happiness?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cetasikaṁ sukhaṁ, cetasikaṁ sātaṁ, manosamphassajaṁ sukhaṁ sātaṁ vedayitaṁ

Mental enjoyment, mental pleasure, the enjoyable, pleasant feeling that’s born from mind contact.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, somanassindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of happiness.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of sadness?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cetasikaṁ dukkhaṁ, cetasikaṁ asātaṁ, manosamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ

Mental pain, mental displeasure, the painful, unpleasant feeling that’s born from mind contact.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, domanassindriyaṁ.

This is called the faculty of sadness.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ?

And what is the faculty of equanimity?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ cetasikaṁ nevasātaṁ nāsātaṁ vedayitaṁ

Neither pleasant nor unpleasant feeling, whether physical or mental.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, upekkhindriyaṁ.

This is the faculty of equanimity.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañcindriyānī”ti.

These are the five faculties.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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Displeasure

Displeasure

A feeling of mental pain or a disagreeable feeling or unease born of mental contact.

Also known as: mental pain, mental distress, melancholy, sadness
Pāli: domanassa
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Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
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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
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Investigation

Investigation

Investigation involves the process of a careful inquiry of mental states, qualities, and phenomena, examining their arising, persisting, and ceasing in order to understand their true nature and support the cultivation of wisdom and awakening.

Also known as: inquiry, contemplation, examination, analysis, exploration
Pāli: vicaya, vīmaṃsā, parikkhati
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026