Vedanā is usually translated as “feeling,” one of the most unfortunate examples of single-word translation from Pāli. “Sensation” is better, but only with an explanation: Vedanā refers to instantaneous, semi-conscious reactions to events—the mind reacts “pleasant” or “unpleasant” or “neither pleasant nor unpleasant.” This is a key gear in the hedonic cycle, repeating & strengthening our evolved patterns of behavior. Vedanā is key to kamma (karma), the way ethical behavior has effects at later times. As the force behind human habits, it represents kamma at its smallest observable scale—the scale at which humans can have “free will.” It appears in Gotama’s teachings frequently, notably in the cycle of dependent arising, paṭiccasamuppāda, where vedanā is the potential weak link between sense contact (phassa) & the craving (taṅhā) which leads to clinging (upādāna). Vedanā can be observed in meditation as an example of impermanence (anicca), since it arises & passes relatively quickly.1 It is one of the five aggregates (upadānākhandha) & thus helps create the illusion of a permanent self. Vedanā occurs when any of the six sense bases (with thoughts being the sixth sense) contacts the world. Vedanā is crucially related to sīla, or ethical practice, which helps train us not to be ruled by vedanā.
anicca • dependent arising • ethics • evolution • free will • hedonic • impermanence • kamma • sīla
- Saṃyutta Nikāya 22:95 “vedanā bubbuḷupamā” “vedanā is like a bubble” ↩