2. Vedanānupassanā:
Contemplation of Feeling

Kathañca bhikkhave bhikkhu / vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati?/

“And how, monks, does a monk dwell contemplating feelings in feelings?

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu / sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti,/

“Here monks, when feeling a pleasant feeling, a monk understands: • ‘I feel a pleasant feeling.’

Dukkhaṁ vā vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

When feeling a painful feeling, he understands: • ‘I feel a painful feeling.’

Adukkhamasukhaṁ vā vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

When feeling neither a painful nor pleasant feeling, he understands: • ‘I feel neither a painful nor pleasant feeling.’

Sāmisaṁ vā sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

“When feeling a pleasant feeling based on the five sense objects; • forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles, • he understands it properly: • ‘I am feeling a wordly pleasant feeling.’

Nirāmisaṁ vā sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

When feeling a pleasant feeling through his spiritual practice, • he understands it properly: • ‘I am feeling a spiritual pleasant feeling.’

Sāmisaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/sāmisaṁ dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

When feeling a painful feeling based on the five sense objects; • forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles, • he understands it properly: • ‘I am feeling a worldly painful feeling.’

Nirāmisaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ nirāmisaṁ dukkhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

When feeling a painful feeling based on the lack of spiritual fruits, • he understands it properly: • ‘I am feeling a spiritual painful feeling.’

Sāmisaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ sāmisaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

When feeling a neither painful nor pleasant feeling • based on the five sense objects; • forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles, • he understands it properly: • ‘I am feeling a neither painful nor pleasant worldly feeling.’

Nirāmisaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyamāno,/ nirāmisaṁ adukkhamasukhaṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī ti pajānāti./

When feeling a neither painful nor pleasant feeling • through his spiritual practice • he understands it properly: • ‘I am feeling a neither painful nor pleasant spiritual feeling.’

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati,/ bahiddhā vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati,/ ajjhatta bahiddhā vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating feelings in feelings within himself, • he dwells contemplating feelings in feelings within another, • and he dwells contemplating feelings in feelings • both within himself and within another.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā vedanāsu viharati,/ vaya dhammānupassī vā vedanāsu viharati,/ samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā vedanāsu viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of feelings, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of feelings, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of feelings.

Atthi vedanā ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇamattāya paṭissatimattāya./ Anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

“Mindfulness, that there is a feeling • is simply established in him • to the extent necessary for higher knowledge and mindfulness. He dwells independent, and not clinging to anything in the world.

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating feelings in feelings.

(The section on contemplating feelings in feelings is finished.)

The complete translation of the Maha Satipatthana Sutta can be found in in this book. The special feature of this book is that the many beautiful repetitions that help us understand each section have been carefully included so it is the perfect text for chanting. As well, the Pali and English has been marked with pauses so groups can easily chant in harmony.