Identity and Identify is the process of vedana feelings (the citta minds) (lesson 29)

HOW TO ERADICATE FEELINGS VEDANA (Lesson 29)

Identity and Identify is the process of vedana feelings (the citta minds)

When you hear a sound, your immediate emotional reaction is through your five faculties eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body to identify the sound as dog barking, bird singing etc.. It will generate mental formations. This will activate the sensations in your contacted parts and vibrate the nervous system to feed the received data back to the brain. The mental process is endless and called endless cycle of arising and ceasing (samsara).

Will the process of identity recognition affect the cause-effect cycle ?

Once your brain receives the data, it shall quickly build up the Nama and rupa foundation. It will assume the available cognitive process of the brain to name the identity as a man, woman, dog, cat etc….Such assumption acting under illusion shall become conscious of pleasant, unpleasant or neither pleasant nor unpleasant, feelings and subject your-self to the vedana which inadvertently transform the information into the emotional tanha (emotional craving). Your brain will activate the gland organs to inject into your nervous and blood stream several chemicals to maintain the body functions. Who suffers or enjoys the vibration ? It is YOU ; the identity which one of five hindrances obstructing your ways to liberation.

 A sotapanna is the one capable of contemplating the characteristics of 4 dhatus or Nama (ie. feeling process) and thereby achieving Eko Dhammo (single mindedness) on the feeling process. He knows and understands the process of feelings arising and vanishing repeatedly. Neither quality (either good or bad) is attached to that process of feelings. By continuing performing the critical clear process of contemplation as such, the sotapanna shall understand the five sense organs are no more than mental formations (citta sankharas) occurrence and interactions. He focuses only on the present moment; here and now. Because the present moment is also arising and vanishing, the sotapanna inadvertently contemplates the phenomenon of arising and vanishing which is literally called Impermanence; one of key pillars of enlightenment.

In short, the sotapanna (stream enter) actually practices not on the breath in-out but on the impermanence of Kaya and Vedana (Rupa and Nama). They are no more than the mental cognitive process; through constant Satipatthana and Nupassana. The interaction of four Dhatus are fully comprehended and understood. There is no intention or energetic intention of moving forward to the next stage of tanha (craving). Consciousness of feeling process (vedana) is contemplated in every moment. Illusion and deception is thereby eradicated. The “I, ME” is destructed.

 (to be continued)

Ven.. Minh Tam