The Buddha teaches on the five spiritual faculties regarding the simile of the fire sticks, guiding mendicants in developing faith through wisdom on the path to liberation.

SN 48.39 The Simile of the Fire Sticks

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

Sukhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ. So sukhitova samāno ‘sukhitosmī’ti pajānāti. Tasseva sukhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ sukhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

Dukkhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dukkhindriyaṁ. So dukkhitova samāno ‘dukkhitosmī’ti pajānāti. Tasseva dukkhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ dukkhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

Somanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati somanassindriyaṁ. So sumanova samāno ‘sumanosmī’ti pajānāti. Tasseva somanassavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ somanassavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ somanassindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

Domanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati domanassindriyaṁ. So dummanova samāno ‘dummanosmī’ti pajānāti. Tasseva domanassavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ domanassavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ domanassindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

Upekkhāvedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ. So upekkhakova samāno ‘upekkhakosmī’ti pajānāti. Tasseva upekkhāvedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ upekkhāvedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dvinnaṁ kaṭṭhānaṁ saṅghaṭṭanasamodhānā usmā jāyati, tejo abhinibbattati; tesaṁyeva kaṭṭhānaṁ nānābhāvāvinikkhepā tajjā usmā nirujjhati vūpasammati;

evameva kho, bhikkhave, sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ. So sukhitova samāno ‘sukhitosmī’ti pajānāti. Tasseva sukhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

Dukkhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe… somanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe… domanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe… upekkhāvedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ. So upekkhakova samāno ‘upekkhakosmī’ti pajānāti. Tasseva upekkhāvedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ upekkhāvedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti”.

Navamaṁ.

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.

Sukhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ.

The faculty of pleasure arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as pleasant.

So sukhitova samāno ‘sukhitosmī’ti pajānāti.

When in a state of pleasure, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of pleasure.’

Tasseva sukhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ sukhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as pleasant, you understand that the corresponding faculty of pleasure that had arisen ceases and stops.

Dukkhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dukkhindriyaṁ.

The faculty of pain arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as painful.

So dukkhitova samāno ‘dukkhitosmī’ti pajānāti.

When in a state of pain, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of pain.’

Tasseva dukkhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ dukkhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as painful, you understand that the corresponding faculty of pain that had arisen ceases and stops.

Somanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati somanassindriyaṁ.

The faculty of happiness arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as happiness.

So sumanova samāno ‘sumanosmī’ti pajānāti.

When in a state of happiness, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of happiness.’

Tasseva somanassavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ somanassavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ somanassindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as happiness, you understand that the corresponding faculty of happiness that had arisen ceases and stops.

Domanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati domanassindriyaṁ.

The faculty of sadness arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as sadness.

So dummanova samāno ‘dummanosmī’ti pajānāti.

When in a state of sadness, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of sadness.’

Tasseva domanassavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ domanassavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ domanassindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as sadness, you understand that the corresponding faculty of sadness that had arisen ceases and stops.

Upekkhāvedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ.

The faculty of equanimity arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as equanimous.

So upekkhakova samāno ‘upekkhakosmī’ti pajānāti.

When in a state of equanimity, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of equanimity.’

Tasseva upekkhāvedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ upekkhāvedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as equanimous, you understand that the corresponding faculty of equanimity that had arisen ceases and stops.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dvinnaṁ kaṭṭhānaṁ saṅghaṭṭanasamodhānā usmā jāyati, tejo abhinibbattati; tesaṁyeva kaṭṭhānaṁ nānābhāvāvinikkhepā tajjā usmā nirujjhati vūpasammati;

When you rub two sticks together, heat is generated and fire is produced. But when you part the sticks and lay them aside, any corresponding heat ceases and stops.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ.

In the same way, the faculty of pleasure arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as pleasant.

So sukhitova samāno ‘sukhitosmī’ti pajānāti.

When in a state of pleasure, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of pleasure.’

Tasseva sukhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as pleasant, you understand that the corresponding faculty of pleasure that arises ceases and stops.

Dukkhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe…

The faculty of pain …

somanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe…

happiness …

domanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe…

sadness …

upekkhāvedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ.

equanimity arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as equanimous.

So upekkhakova samāno ‘upekkhakosmī’ti pajānāti.

When in a state of equanimity, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of equanimity.’

Tasseva upekkhāvedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ upekkhāvedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti”.

With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as equanimous, you understand that the corresponding faculty of equanimity that arises ceases and stops.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

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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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
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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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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