Page 51 - Dhamma Practice
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do not see when they emerge. We only know that there is pain, but once we move, it ceases. Or, once we forget, it ceases. This is called not experiencing the emergence, existence, cessation of sensations phenomenon.
We should contemplate the separation between the mind or the awareness that experiences, and the sensation phenomenon. Why do we have to do this? We do it so that we can be aware of the reality of the Aggregate (khandha) that is called “the sensation aggregate” (vedana khandha). The mind that experiences is the “consciousness aggregate” (vinnana khandha). The sensation is a mental phenomenon. The mind is also a mental phenomenon. We are separating one mental phenomenon from another. We do this in order to see clearly that they are totally separate. Hence, when sensations occur, they should not impact and sadden our mind, correct?
The physical sensation is one part, the mind sensation is another. If the physical sensation makes us gloomy, we have to contemplate whether we have a sense of “self”, or not? What is gloominess? It is defilement, correct? Defilements can only emerge with a sense of “self” or a sense of “us”. With the sense of “us”, likes and dislikes emerge immediately. But, without “us”, there will only be a feeling of good or bad. Therefore, it is important to contemplate whether the mind that experiences and the sensation that emerges—are they one of the same, or are they separate?
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