why i have to resist itching/tingling sensations
Upvote:0
It's not normal to itch all day and it is a skin issue, possibly an allergy or an intolerance of some sort but can also be a liver or a kidney problem and whatnot.
If scratching an itch gives you relief from the uncomfort then you can make yourself comfortable. The Buddha adjusted the posture when his back hurt and took a nap in daytime when he saw it fit.
Medical procedures are of course allowed and the relief from physical illness is in a qualified sense a stilling of suffering.
I guess you got the idea of not scratching an itch from some 'vipassana meditation' teaching of just observing feelings and perceptions.
However if we just passively observe everything without acting on our knowledge for the purpose of stilling that which is suffering and avoiding states connected with aversion, greed and delusion then we wouldn't be going to an empty building or the root of a tree to meditate nor would we be guarding our senses.
Physical discomfort is a cause for aversion and it is difficult to think clearly when one is upset. Some defilements are to be abandoned by forbearance and some defilements are to be abandoned by avoidance, forbearance isn't always the way to deal with discomfort; if forbearance was always the answer would we eat to keep hunger away?
One doesn't have to choose between being mindful and scratching an itch because the two aren't antagonistic to one another.
Upvote:1
The point is not to resist the urge. The meditation is in observing the effect the itch has on the mind. Satipatthana meditation is defined with three qualities: Ardency, Alertness, and Mindfulness. Let us focus on the first quality here. Though note that all three apply.
"Ardency means being intent on what you're doing, trying your best to do it skillfully. This doesn't mean that you have to keep straining and sweating all the time, just that you're continuous in developing skillful habits and abandoning unskillful ones." - Thanissaro Bhikku
So in this context, we would want to itch in a skillfull way.
How does "Simply itching and moving on" effect us? How does giving into our urges when they come about serve us?
Does giving into the minds urges immediately lead you towards the goal or away from it? Each moment you are conditioning your mind (your kamma). Conditioning your mind to reactivity can lead to unskillful qualities if not done with headfulness.
I encourage you to scratch the itch and observe how your mind reacts. Then don't scratch it and observe it. Does there need to be discomfort because of the itch.
Recall the Five Subjects of Frequent Recollection:
Kammassakomhi kamma-dāyādo kamma-yoni kamma-bandhu kamma-paṭisaraṇo.
I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and live dependent on my actions.
Yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā tassa dāyādo bhavissāmi.
Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.
Evaṁ amhehi abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ.
We should often reflect on this.
More post
- 📝 what is the traditional zen stance on agriculture and animal care?
- 📝 Killer Neighbors
- 📝 Asking about Parent-Child relationship karma. Is it bad if I don't wanna go visit my dad?
- 📝 Do Chinese-language publications about Zen Buddhism usually use Simplified or Traditional Chinese?
- 📝 Why monks have to take alms for their food?
- 📝 Buddhism and misanthropy
- 📝 Why is Nanavira considered controversial?
- 📝 Are there studies about the difference between meditating in the morning versus in the evening?
- 📝 The Intention to Strive
- 📝 What makes someone take rebirth with non heterosexual inclinations?
- 📝 Does accusation helps a person change his values or a better ways is to tell a story with moral?
- 📝 What are the points against social engagement?
- 📝 Was buddha aware of future or future way of living?
- 📝 How do you see this article fitting in with Buddhist principles?
- 📝 Which branches of Buddhism acknowledge the Parable Sutra?
- 📝 If Kombucha Tea (trace amounts of alcohol) is used as medicine, is it considered a breach of conduct?
- 📝 Caught in a bind; what to do?
- 📝 What is the meaning of delusion? and how to get rid of it?
- 📝 What is the difference between sin and karma in Buddhism?
- 📝 What is the best way to develop a mind observation habit?
- 📝 SN 12.35: why do both phrases have the same meaning?
- 📝 Are the positive qualities of enlightenment ultimate or conventional realities?
- 📝 Is there a point practicing mantra if I can get to samadhi with pure anapana/breath meditation?
- 📝 What are the differences of Phala Samapatti between each stage of sainthood?
- 📝 Is the emptiness of persons an emptiness of essence or just substance?
- 📝 Is Sakyamuni a "higher power"?
- 📝 Unwholesome thoughts at the time of death
- 📝 Why can't a Buddha's power just save us already? Like Jesus
- 📝 How would Buddhists respond to someone harming the temple?
- 📝 Neighbour from "hell"
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 why i have to resist itching/tingling sensations
- 📝 Why do Buddhist Stupas have various shapes?
- 📝 Why is "I have no self" a wrong view?
- 📝 Why do Buddhists have children?
- 📝 Why do Bhikkhunis have so many extra Vinaya rules?
- 📝 Why monks have to take alms for their food?
- 📝 Why do I have to suffer due to a thing that a person in a past life has done that I have no control over?
- 📝 If we have the law of karma, why do we need other laws, or do we?
- 📝 Why do you have sadness in the first Jhana?
- 📝 The Buddha is said to have rediscovered the ancient path. Why was it lost to begin with?
- 📝 Why have a legal/ justice system? Let karma take care of things?
- 📝 The question of why do we have craving
- 📝 Why does Mahasi Method have the points on the Body to attend to?
- 📝 If someone have experienced supernatural abilities through meditation, than why don't he shows it to world?
- 📝 Why does Buddhism seem to have more than one goal?
- 📝 Why do I have swaying/floating feeling after completing 10 day Vipassana course?
- 📝 Why do ignorance and intention have something to do with rebirth?
- 📝 Why do so many traditions and religions have saint men who claim having attained enlightenment?
- 📝 If there is no literal rebirth, why have samvega (a sense of urgency)
- 📝 Why did Yamaka have wrong view in SN 22.85?
- 📝 Why have I awoken Now?
- 📝 Why we must have a confident mind?
- 📝 SN 12.35: why do both phrases have the same meaning?
- 📝 If a buddhist should not kill a mouse living in their home, what justification do they have to rid themselves of a parasite such tapeworms
- 📝 Why is Buddhism not Nihilism?
- 📝 Does Zen Buddhism have canonical texts?
- 📝 Do you have to follow a monastic lifestyle to attain enlightenment?
- 📝 Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
- 📝 If there's nobody to get enlightened, why bother?
- 📝 Why isn't there a Buddhist Bible?