Knowledge of Rise and Fall
In the practice of Insight Meditation, one must be mindful of feeling. By being mindful, one comes
to realize the true nature of all feelings. Their rise and fall character their impermanence.
Their otherwiseness and dukkha. When a pleasant feeling arises owing to the clinging to it there
also arises a subtle agitation with the clinging. As the pleasant feeling fades away, the
agitation can only grow.
The Buddha declared for one’s frequent contemplation, that “all that is lovely and delightful is
of the nature to be otherwise and separate”. When something delightful becomes otherwise, when
it is no longer delightful, agitation and restlessness goes into strength. So as pleasant
feeling arises and ceases, there will be agitation and restlessness if you delight in it, cling
to it. If the feeling is unpleasant, by resenting it you harass yourself, torment yourself.