Mahasatipatthana Sutta

II. Vedananupassana (Contemplation on Feelings)

And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu dwell perceiving again and again that feelings (vedana)note45 are just feelings (not mine, not I, not self but just as phenomena)?

Here (in this teaching), bhikkhus, while experiencing a pleasant feeling,note46 a bhikkhu knows, "I am experiencing a pleasant feeling"; or while experiencing an unpleasant feeling,note47 he knows, "I am experiencing an unpleasant feeling"; or while experiencing a feeling that is neither pleasant nor unpleasant,note48 he knows, "I am experiencing a feeling that is neither pleasant nor unpleasant.''

While experiencing a pleasant feeling associated with sense pleasures,note49 he knows, "I am experiencing a pleasant feeling associated with sense pleasures"; or while experiencing a pleasant feeling not associated with sense pleasures,note50 he knows, "I am experiencing a pleasant feeling not associated with sense pleasures.''

While experiencing an unpleasant feeling associated with sense pleasures,note51 he knows, "I am experiencing an unpleasant feeling associated with sense pleasures"; or while experiencing an unpleasant feeling not associated with sense pleasures,note52 he knows, ''I am experiencing an unpleasant feeling not associated with sense pleasures.''

While experiencing a feeling, that is neither pleasant nor unpleasant that is associated with sense pleasures,note53 he knows, "I am experiencing a feeling that is neither pleasant nor unpleasant that is associated with sense pleasures"; or while experiencing a feeling that is neither pleasant nor unpleasant that is not associated with sense pleasures, he knows, "I am experiencing a feeling that is neither pleasant nor unpleasant that is not associated with sense pleasures.''

Thus he dwells perceiving again and again feelings as just feelings (not mine, not I, not self, but just as phenomena) in himself; or he dwells perceiving again and again feelings as just feelings in others; or he dwells perceiving again and again feelings as just feelings in both himself and in others. He dwells perceiving again and again the cause and the actual appearing of feelings; or he dwells perceiving again and again the cause and the actual dissolution of feelings; or he dwells perceiving again and again both the actual appearing and dissolution of feelings with their causes.note54 To summarize, he is firmly mindful of the fact that only feelings exists (not a soul, a self or I). That mindfulness is just for gaining insight (vipassana) and mindfulness progressively. Being detached from craving and wrong views he dwells without clinging to anything in the world. Thus, bhikkhus, in this way a bhikkhu dwells perceiving again and again feelings as just feelings.