Mahāvedallasutta

Suttapiṭaka · Majjhimanikāya · Vol. 12 · Section 495

[495] "Friend, 'feeling, feeling (vedanā)' is said. In what way, friend, is it called 'feeling'?" "'It feels, it feels,' friend; therefore it is called 'feeling'. And what does it feel? It feels pleasure, it feels pain, and it feels neither-pain-nor-pleasure. 'It feels, it feels,' friend; therefore it is called 'feeling'." "Friend, 'perception, perception (saññā)' is said. In what way, friend, is it called 'perception'?" "'It perceives, it perceives,' friend; therefore it is called 'perception'. And what does it perceive? It perceives blue, it perceives yellow, it perceives red, and it perceives white. 'It perceives, it perceives,' friend; therefore it is called 'perception'." "Friend, that which is feeling, that which is perception, and that which is consciousness (viññāṇa) — are these dhammas conjoined or disjoined? And is it possible, having separated these dhammas one from another, to declare a difference between them?" "Friend, that which is feeling, that which is perception, and that which is consciousness — these dhammas are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is not possible, having separated these dhammas one from another, to declare a difference between them. For what one feels, friend, that one perceives; and what one perceives, that one cognizes. Therefore these dhammas are conjoined, not disjoined, and it is not possible, having separated these dhammas one from another, to declare a difference between them."

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.