Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings

This is part 9 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

We always have the option to investigate (rather than react to) our feelings: to “be with” what we experience with compassion and curiosity to learn their true character.

Textbook

Read Chapter 8 of:

From Craving to Liberation: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 1 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 52.10 Bāḷhagilāna Sutta: Gravely Ill (.pdf)

MN 57.27: The Leper Simile

MN 146.15: The Lamp Simile

Similes

Hecker similes: 11, 58, and 60.

Reflections

How does curiosity and understanding soften reactivity? How does the Buddha’s rhetoric reflect those qualities?

Continue to Part 10, Sukha — Happiness

...or go back to part 8