# Question about physical pain **URL:** \ **Category:** Abhidhamma\ **Created:** [October 30, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-physical-pain/2697 "2026-10-30T14:55:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HappinessSeeker](https://classicaltheravada.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/67e7ee/32.png) [@HappinessSeeker](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/HappinessSeeker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-physical-pain/2697/1 "2026-10-30T14:55:15Z")
Is physical pain Rupa (imbalance of 4 elements) or Vedana (feeling)? I noticed that when I’m hungry, the word “hunger” itself is a concept. The feeling of hunger seems to be the characteristics of the four elements. Does Vedana only refer to emotional feelings like sadness, joy, anger, etc? ---
**Author:** ![bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/bksubhuti/32/19_2.png) [@bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/bksubhuti)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 5:46am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-physical-pain/2697/2 "2026-10-31T05:46:56Z")
In brief, there are five types of vedanā: Two are physical, caused by kāyappasāda: sukha and dukkha. Three are mental: somanassa, domanassa, and upekkhā. ---
**Author:** ![NamoBuddhāya](https://classicaltheravada.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@NamoBuddhāya](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/NamoBuddh%C4%81ya)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 8:13am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-physical-pain/2697/3 "2026-10-31T08:13:19Z")
Namo Buddhāya Bodily painful sensation is dukkha vedana. Mental painful sensation is domanassa vedana. \_\_ The physical painful sensation is caused by 3 elements and 3 elements only, earth fire or wind element. Because water element is sukhumarupa (subtle materiality), included in Dhammayatana not photthabbayatana. No other element can cause the arising of physical painful sensation. The painful feeling is vedana, the cause is 3 elements. In this way, you won’t be confused. \_\_ Gross quality earth or fire or wind element impinge kayapasadarupa (Body translucent materiality), if there’s manasikara (attention), kayaviññāna (bodily consciousness) can arise. The meeting of object, base, and consciousness is phassa (contact). From that contact arise kayikadukkhavedana (physical painful feeling). \_\_ You’re right that ‘hunger’ is concept. If you observe the element characteristics, the so called ‘hunger’ is just a set of sensation of chaotic earth fire wind element. When the 3 elements chaotic but the consciousness not take them as object, the dukkhavedana not arise. Only when the bodily consciousness take them as object the dukkhavedana can arise. In this way you can distinguish clearly and obviously between them both. Hope it helps. Namo Buddhāya. ---
**Author:** ![bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/bksubhuti/32/19_2.png) [@bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/bksubhuti)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 9:36am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/question-about-physical-pain/2697/4 "2026-10-31T09:36:32Z")
**1. Atthasālinī (commentary on the Dhammasaṅgaṇī), on nutriment (_kabaḷīkārāhāra_)** > **Ko panesa parissayo nāma? Kammajatejo. Antokucchiyañhi odanādivatthusmiṃ asati, kammajatejo uṭṭhahitvā udarapaṭalaṃ gaṇhāti, ‘chātomhi, āhāraṃ me dethā’ ti vadāpeti.** > > What is this danger? It is the kamma-born fire element. For when there is no rice or other food in the stomach, the kamma-born fire rises up and seizes the stomach lining, and makes one say, “I am hungry, give me food!” > > [Dhammasaṅgaṇī-aṭṭhakathā, p. 366 (TPR)](https://tpr.pali.tools/open?book_id=attha_bi_01&page_number=366&name=dhammasa%E1%B9%85ga%E1%B9%87%C4%ABa%E1%B9%AD%E1%B9%ADhakath%C4%81¬e=&selected_text=QW50b2t1Y2NoaXlhw7FoaSBvZGFuxIFkaXZhdHRodXNtaeG5gyBhc2F0aSwga2FtbWFqYXRlam8gdeG5reG5rWhhaGl0dsSBIHVkYXJhcGHhua1hbGHhuYM%3D) — As 2130:6–8 **2. Sammohavinodanī (commentary on the Vibhaṅga)** > **Yassa pana … kammajatejo pajjalati, anupādinnakaṃ muñcitvā upādinnakaṃ gaṇhāti, sarīrato sedā muccanti … Athassa dvattikkhattuṃ ajjhoharaṇamatteneva kammajatejodhātu upādinnakaṃ muñcitvā anupādinnakaṃ gaṇhāti, ghaṭasatena nhāto viya tejodhātupariḷāhanibbānaṃ patvā …** > > But for one in whom … the kamma-born fire blazes up, it lets go of what is not kamma-born (food) and seizes what is kamma-born (the body’s own tissue); sweat pours from his body … Then, after only two or three swallows of gruel, the kamma-born fire element lets go of the kamma-born tissue and seizes what is not kamma-born, and he gains relief from the burning of the fire element, as if bathed with a hundred pots of water … (tr. Claude) > > [Vibhaṅga-aṭṭhakathā, p. 335 (TPR)](https://tpr.pali.tools/open?book_id=attha_bi_02&page_number=335&name=vibha%E1%B9%85gaa%E1%B9%AD%E1%B9%ADhakath%C4%81¬e=&selected_text=WWFzc2EgcGFuYSBwYWdldmEgdnV0dGFwcGFrxIFyYeG5gyB2YXR0YXBh4bmtaXBhdHRp4bmDIGthcm9udGFzc2E%3D) — Vibh-a 1599:1–2