The Many Kinds of Feeling

Feeling (vedanā), in the Buddhist definition, is just the basic affective tone of our experience, most simply as either pleasant, unpleasant or neither-pleasant-nor-unpleasant, distinct from the mental or emotional reactions which it often initiates.

Feelings are present whenever there is consciousness, whether we are aware of them or not. Sometimes they may be quite subtle, and other times we are simply not aware of them.

In practice there is actually a continuum of feeling tones, which range from the most ecstatically pleasant to ordinarily pleasant, neutral or slightly unpleasant, to excruciatingly unpleasant.

Through development of the exercise described here (see book, pp. 99-100; Also see MN 59 and MN 59), we become increasingly aware not only of the incredible range of feeling tones and the influence they exert over us but also of the fragility of these feelings to which we give such importance.

This exercise also specifically advises being aware of feeling tones which arise from both sensory and spiritual sources. Thus one may be able to appreciate the difference in the quality of feelings from these two distinct sources.

Spiritual feelings would arise from unselfish acts such as generosity or kindness, as well as from spiritual practices such as patience or meditation.

This reflection by Ajahn Thiradhammo is from the book, Treasures of the Buddha’s Teaching, (pdf) pp. 100-101.