Page 52 - Dhamma Practice

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Next, we have to contemplate the ultimate truth of sensations phenomenon. When we say sensations are not permanent, what do we mean? When we say sensations are sufferings, what do we mean? The characteristics of sufferings are that what emerges must cease. They cannot maintain their conditions. We can contemplate the ache that emerges here—what are its characteristics? Constant, or sometimes intense, sometimes dull. Or, the ache emerges and fades away or flashes out. Or, the ache emerges and radiates away. These are all characteristics of the sensations phenomenon.
One benefit arising from our contemplation of the sensations phenomenon is that thina-middha nivarana (sleepiness, lethargy) will disappear—that is, sleepiness will disappear. If our mind is awake, it would be bright. Notice that a person in intense pain cannot fall asleep. Whenever we have intense pain, we cannot fall asleep at all. Our mind is alert (Translator’s note: To experience pain). Therefore, one usefulness or benefit of sensations contemplation is that we can be aware that this physical body is a habitation of sufferings; a place of sensations; and we have no control over them. In addition, we will become aware of the ultimate truth that sensations phenomenon changes and it does not proclaim itself to be “us”. When we contemplate that the mind that experiences and the sensations phenomenon are separate, we will see that the sensations phenomenon is just the