[Paybeskf]

Greetings


I was recently reflecting upon greed, hatred and delusion when something struck me. These seem to be directly related to, and possibly are discussing, the three feelings, pleasurable, painful and neutral



Greed is wanting, so following pleasure


Hatred is aversion, so following aversion


Now the third one, netural feelings, I did have trouble with. Why would ignorance of netural feelings be important?



There is a sutta that touches upon this


"In the case of pleasant feelings, O monks, the underlying tendency[8] to lust should be given up; in the case of painful feelings, the underlying tendency to resistance (aversion) should be given up; in the case of neither-painful-nor-pleasant feelings, the underlying tendency to ignorance should be given up.

"If a monk has given up the tendency to lust in regard to pleasant feeling, the tendency to resistance in regard to painful feelings, and the tendency to ignorance in regard to neither-painful-nor-pleasant feelings, then he is called one who is free of (unwholesome) tendencies, one who has the right outlook. He has cut off craving, severed the fetters (to future existence), and through the full penetration of conceit,[9] he has made an end of suffering."

If one feels joy, but knows not feeling's nature,
bent towards greed, he will not find deliverance.
If one feels pain, but knows not feeling's nature,
bent toward hate, he will not find deliverance.

And even neutral feeling which as peaceful
the Lord of Wisdom has proclaimed,
if, in attachment, he should cling to it,
he will not be free from the round of ill.

And having done so, in this very life
will be free from cankers, free from taints.

Mature in knowledge, firm in Dhamma's ways,
when once his life-span ends, his body breaks,
all measure and concept he has transcended.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....003.nypo.html




So I would say that neutral feeling could be the peace that is there when there is no wanting or averting


This can be found in Right Mindfulness, in full awareness. So if one is fully aware, then one has no ignorance to neutral feeling, no greed for a pleasurable feeling and no aversion to a painful feeling and one has wisdom and so, no ignorance, no greed and no hatred


Or it could be that when one is ignorant of neutral feeling, one doesnt reconise it and so will be more likely to start seeking a pleasurable feeling, yet when one knows neutral feelings, one does not avert or attach to them and just watches them rise and fall

Not sure if I explained it properly, bit hard to put into words


Any thoughts on why non-ignorance in relation to neutral feelings is important and also on any connection to the three kilesas