Part 14 - The Skill of Seeing Feeling Clearly
(Vedanā-sati-sampajañña — Awareness at the First Spark)
If the link from feeling to craving
is the turning point of liberation…
Then the skill we need most is:
to notice feeling before the mind grasps it.
Not to suppress it.
Not to replace it.
Not to judge it.
Just to see it directly.
Feeling is extremely fast
So awareness must be immediate
There is a tiny window—
1–2 seconds after contact—
where feeling has not yet become personal.
In that moment:
- pleasant is just pleasant
- unpleasant is just unpleasant
- neutral is just neutral
No story
No identity
No problem
This is the freedom gap.
What seeing clearly looks like
Example:
Pain → “unpleasant feeling”
not → “I am hurt”
not → “Someone caused me pain”
Praise → “pleasant feeling”
not → “I am valuable finally”
Silence → “neutral feeling”
not → “They are ignoring me”
When feeling is just recognized:
- it rises
- is known
- and passes
naturally
without building a self around it
“Feeling is happening
but there is no one in it.”
This is not indifference
This is intelligence
We are not shutting down emotions.
We are shutting down ego fabrication.
When awareness is present:
- emotions can flow
- sensations can move
- the world can act
- thoughts can appear and vanish
but nothing sticks
because no one claims ownership.
This is emotional maturity in its highest form.
The most profound simplicity
See feeling as feeling,
and suffering cannot begin.
This is what the Buddha meant by:
- vedanā vedanā-anupassī
(“mindfulness of feeling as feeling”) - yoniso manasikāra
(“wise attention at the point of origin”)
Just meet the first spark
before the fire of craving starts.
One sentence summary of Part 14
Clear awareness of feeling
cuts the chain before “I” is born.