.... ........
Ever since I read MCTB, and learned of the characteristic of dissatisfaction, I find it so oddly satisfying to investigate how everything is dissatisfying.

I can't help but wonder if I am doing it wrong, or if it's supposed to work this way?

Perhaps it could make sense, if I accept everything is dissatisfying, I no longer grasp or cling, but why does it fill me with content and bliss?

T DC
Great job!  It's also important to note that the three characteristics are simply three different ways of conceptualizing the "ultimate" appearance of phenomena.  Thus they are more three fingers pointing at the moon than three ultimate phenomena in themselves.  It's great you are appreciating their contemplation, but also remember they are but guideposts on the path, and ultimately the experience they are pointing to lies beyond conceptualization.  ;)

Jim Smith


Can you explain how pleasant thigs are dissatisfying?

And what do you mean by "I accept everything is dissatisfying"? Did you do that once and you were done, or do you do it every time you recognize something is dissatisfying? And how do you "accept" it, do you say to yourself I accept xyz is dissatisfying because ...?


I will try my best, but it may end up being one of those paradoxical sounding things that don't translate into words very well.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say, everything is dissatisfying to some extent, because nothing is fulfilling in a permanent way.
I find chocolate pleasant, but as I eat it, I lose my desire for it, the ability to enjoy or derive pleasure from it, and after eating it I either feel neutral or uncomfortable. When I realize the start and endpoint are the same in terms of dissatisfaction, the enjoyment I expect from it is released without needing to consume it.

shargrol
"why does it fill me with content and bliss?"

it can be a relief to realize that there is a certain basic level of dissatisfaction that isn't your fault.

Aeon ........This really landed with me, thanks for sharing this.
I had been wondering if the proper way of doing insight meditation would be to pour all concentration into observing the three characteristics, or if would be more efficient to deepen the state (for lack of a better word) that they cause.
It appears the second way gets best results, and if I understand correctly, is also what you advise.

Aeon ........ Ever since I read MCTB, and learned of the characteristic of dissatisfaction, I find it so oddly satisfying to investigate how everything is dissatisfying. I can't help but wonder if I am doing it wrong, or if it's supposed to work this way? Perhaps it could make sense, if I accept everything is dissatisfying, I no longer grasp or cling, but why does it fill me with content and bliss?

Aeon ........
...

I will try my best, but it may end up being one of those paradoxical sounding things that don't translate into words very well.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say, everything is dissatisfying to some extent, because nothing is fulfilling in a permanent way.
I find chocolate pleasant, but as I eat it, I lose my desire for it, the ability to enjoy or derive pleasure from it, and after eating it I either feel neutral or uncomfortable. When I realize the start and endpoint are the same in terms of dissatisfaction, the enjoyment I expect from it is released without needing to consume it.

I do the acknowledging of dissatisfaction as a part of insight meditation. While I can forget it in daily life, it feels as if it could become a mental habit of sorts, and thus automatic.

Honestly I'm not sure how I do it. The internal process is becoming aware of something, saying with my inner voice "this too is dissatisfying" or "everything is dissatisfying", and this causes an emotional acknowledgement, rather than a cognitive processing.

I don't know if this makes sense outside my head.