5.2. Types of Vedanā
Vedanā are often subdivided into different types. The Bahuvedanīya Sutta in Majjhima Nikāya contains an analysis of two types, three types, five types, six types, eighteen types, thirty six types, even one hundred and eight types of vedanā.
But for now let's just look an an analysis of vedanā in to six types, as found in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta.
sāmisaṃ vā sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno ‘sāmisaṃ sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti, nirāmisaṃ vā sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno ‘nirāmisaṃ sukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti. sāmisaṃ vā dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno ‘sāmisaṃ dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti, nirāmisaṃ vā dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno ‘nirāmisaṃ dukkhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti. sāmisaṃ vā adukkhamasukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno ‘sāmisaṃ adukkhamasukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti, nirāmisaṃ vā adukkhamasukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayamāno ‘nirāmisaṃ adukkhamasukhaṃ vedanaṃ vedayāmī’ti pajānāti.
When experiencing a fleshly pleasant vedanā... When experiencing a not-of-the-flesh pleasant vedanā...
When experiencing a fleshly unpleasant vedanā... When experiencing a not-of-the-flesh unpleasant vedanā...
When experiencing a fleshly neutral vedanā... When experiencing a not-of-the-flesh neutral vedanā...
One knows, "I am experiencing (such a type) of vedanā.
-- MN10 mahāsatipaṭṭhānasuttaṃ, vedanānupassanā
Here we have the there types of vedanā subdivided into two categories, sāmisa and nirāmisa. Āma literally means 'raw meat' in Pāḷi, so sāmisa is vedanā associated with the flesh, the material world, the five senses, with household life. And its counterpart, nirāmisa, is not-of-the-flesh, related to the mental world, renunciation and monastic life.
Even a monastic experiences material pleasures of sights, sounds, tastes, and physical sensations, but nirāmisa is really referring to the pleasure of meditation, the dukkha of striving and wanting liberation, and the neutral vedanā of total equanimity.
An example is given in the Sutta on the Analysis of Saḷāyatana:
kudāssu nāmāhaṃ tadāyatanaṃ upasampajja viharissāmi yadariyā etarahi āyatanaṃ upasampajja viharantī’ti iti anuttaresu vimokkhesu pihaṃ upaṭṭhāpayato uppajjati pihapaccayā domanassaṃ. yaṃ evarūpaṃ domanassaṃ idaṃ vuccati nekkhammasitaṃ domanassaṃ.
Oh when will I attain in that dimension which the nobles attain and remain in? Thus, arousing desire for for the highest states of liberation, mental distress arises based on that longing. That is called mental distress of renunciation.
-- MN137 saḷāyatanavibhaṅgasuttaṃ
These are simply the three types of vedanā experienced in relation to the five senses and
Q&A
Q: Do you have any questions or doubts at this point?