Turmoil and Tranquility in the Attadaṇḍa Sutta: A Study of Emotions in Early Buddhist Scripture

Abstract

Emotions are essential to the Buddhist conception of the Path. The early Buddhist discourses, in particular, rely on emotion terms to discuss the motivations and challenges of renouncing the household life and joining the monastic community. These canonical texts also describe the emotional disposition of the Buddha and his enlightened disciples. The capacity to address the pivotal roles emotions play at different stages on the Buddhist path is fully displayed in the Attadaḍa Sutta. This early scripture depicts the experience of turmoil (saṃvega) that set the Buddha on the route to nirvana, as well as the state of tranquility (santi) that is exemplary of the liberated sage. In this article, I explore the complex textual representations of these emotions. I argue that the Attadanḍa Sutta describes turmoil and tranquility as existential states, and further suggest that this Buddhist discourse provides a useful framework for comprehending how these contrasting emotions can both be vital to the pursuit of liberation.