The Simile of the Fire SticksKaṭṭhopamasutta

“Mendicants, there are these five faculties.“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, indriyāni. What five?Katamāni pañca? The faculties of pleasure, pain, happiness, sadness, and equanimity.Sukhindriyaṁ, dukkhindriyaṁ, somanassindriyaṁ, domanassindriyaṁ, upekkhindriyaṁ.

The faculty of pleasure arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as pleasant.Sukhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ. When in a state of pleasure, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of pleasure.’So sukhitova samāno ‘sukhitosmī’ti pajānāti. With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as pleasant, you understand that the corresponding faculty of pleasure that had arisen ceases and stops.Tasseva sukhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ sukhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

The faculty of pain arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as painful.Dukkhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati dukkhindriyaṁ. When in a state of pain, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of pain.’So dukkhitova samāno ‘dukkhitosmī’ti pajānāti. With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as painful, you understand that the corresponding faculty of pain that had arisen ceases and stops.Tasseva dukkhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ dukkhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ dukkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

The faculty of happiness arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as happiness.Somanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati somanassindriyaṁ. When in a state of happiness, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of happiness.’So sumanova samāno ‘sumanosmī’ti pajānāti. With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as happiness, you understand that the corresponding faculty of happiness that had arisen ceases and stops.Tasseva somanassavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ somanassavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ somanassindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

The faculty of sadness arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as sadness.Domanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati domanassindriyaṁ. When in a state of sadness, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of sadness.’So dummanova samāno ‘dummanosmī’ti pajānāti. With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as sadness, you understand that the corresponding faculty of sadness that had arisen ceases and stops.Tasseva domanassavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ domanassavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ domanassindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

The faculty of equanimity arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as equanimous.Upekkhāvedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ. When in a state of equanimity, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of equanimity.’So upekkhakova samāno ‘upekkhakosmī’ti pajānāti. With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as equanimous, you understand that the corresponding faculty of equanimity that had arisen ceases and stops.Tasseva upekkhāvedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ upekkhāvedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ upekkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

When you rub two sticks together, heat is generated and fire is produced. But when you part the sticks and lay them aside, any corresponding heat ceases and stops.Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dvinnaṁ kaṭṭhānaṁ saṅghaṭṭanasamodhānā usmā jāyati, tejo abhinibbattati; tesaṁyeva kaṭṭhānaṁ nānābhāvāvinikkhepā yā tajjā usmā sā nirujjhati sā vūpasammati;

In the same way, the faculty of pleasure arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as pleasant.evameva kho, bhikkhave, sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ. When in a state of pleasure, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of pleasure.’So sukhitova samāno ‘sukhitosmī’ti pajānāti. With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as pleasant, you understand that the corresponding faculty of pleasure that arises ceases and stops.Tasseva sukhavedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ sukhavedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti.

The faculty of pain …Dukkhavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe… happiness …somanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe… sadness …domanassavedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca …pe… equanimity arises dependent on a contact to be experienced as equanimous.upekkhāvedaniyaṁ, bhikkhave, phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ. When in a state of equanimity, you understand: ‘I’m in a state of equanimity.’So upekkhakova samāno ‘upekkhakosmī’ti pajānāti. With the cessation of that contact to be experienced as equanimous, you understand that the corresponding faculty of equanimity that arises ceases and stops.”Tasseva upekkhāvedaniyassa phassassa nirodhā ‘yaṁ tajjaṁ vedayitaṁ upekkhāvedaniyaṁ phassaṁ paṭicca uppajjati upekkhindriyaṁ taṁ nirujjhati, taṁ vūpasammatī’ti pajānāti”.