Vedana and Tanha - ေ၀ဒနာ ႏွင့္ တဏွာ

Q: Venerable Sir, a friend of mine said: “to eliminate craving (tanha) one must eliminate feeling (vedana)." He was referring: “craving is ceased on the cessation of feeling (vedana nirodha tanha nirodho)” of Dependent Origination.

I told him that as long as there is consciousness (citta) there will be feeling (vedana), and consciousness (citta) will be there throughout the life circle of a person (samsara), except on two occasions – when the person enters into nirodha-samaapatti which is attainment of cessation of consciousness and cessation of matters caused by consciousness, and when the person attains final liberation (nibbana).

The problem is I maintain that feeling (vedanaa) cannot be eliminated. My friend maintains that feeling (vedanaa) must be eliminated so that craving (tanha) will not arise. Can you tell us who is right and who is wrong?

Respectfully,

Dr Han Tun

A: Dr Han Tun, both of you are right. Feeling arises in all conscious beings. Because feeling is a universal mental property (sabbacittasadharanacetasika) associating with all types of consciousness. Where there is consciousness there will be feeling. And, according to the Dependent Origination, craving ceases on the cessation of feeling. Moreover it is true that craving arises depending on feeling.

In this case "feeling and craving" should be focused. And I understand that the most important thing is "cessation of craving."

As said above, craving arises depending on feeling. However this is a general truth. In other words, this is true for ordinary people. Actually craving can never arise in arahants who have eradicated inherent tendencies (anusaya). In this regard feeling is a condition for craving, but it (craving) cannot arise without inherent tendencies.

As for meditators, a feeling can be a meditation object (vedananupassana). For them, liberation is possible when feeling is meditated with mindfulness and wisdom. If they are successful in this meditation, any kind of feeling will never be a cause of craving. But a certain feeling can lead them to the attainment of the highest wisdom (arahatta-magga-panna) with which they attain the final liberation (nibbana).

Suppose you are practicing Vipassana meditation and you are making notes of your present feeling. For example you have a pleasant feeling and you make notes of this feeling. You note: "feeling, feeling, feeling . . ." By this, you understand that this feeling arises and disappears. You see the true nature of this feeling. But you do not have craving for this feeling. This is your momentary success.

This subject matter is a part of the Dependent Origination which is profound. You are recommended to learn more about the Dependent Origination.

With Metta,

Ashin Acara

Taken from (25 January 2011): http://www.mangalavihara.org.sg/Questions%20and%20Answers/GP01/GP01%20QA07.html

Picture from (25 January 2011): http://wanderingmist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/love_those_thick_impasto_details_on_geological_abstract_painting_ishrath.jpg