<p>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.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;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.&quot; - <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/mindfulnessdefined.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Thanissaro Bhikku</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>So in this context, we would want to itch in a skillfull way.</p>
<p>How does &quot;Simply itching and moving on&quot; effect us? How does giving into our urges when they come about serve us?</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Recall the <a href="https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/ChantingGuide/Section0007.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Five Subjects of Frequent Recollection</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Kammassakomhi kamma-dāyādo kamma-yoni kamma-bandhu kamma-paṭisaraṇo.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>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.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā tassa dāyādo bhavissāmi.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Evaṁ amhehi abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We should often reflect on this.</p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-20T21:16:39.703Z
scratching feels good while resisting it creates confusion in my mind that why i am not allowed to scratch,that persistent confusion drives me to scratching again ):
Suraj Pandey
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-20T21:37:31.577Z
Scratching does feel good. How does your mind feel with relation to that pleasure?

Resisiting also feels pointless and causes confusion. How does tension build from resisting scratching? Does your breathing quicken? Does your chest tighten? Does your face tighten?

An itch is a microcosm for how the mind causes itself suffering. Don't think "I'm not allowed to scratch". Vipassana is not dogmatic. Oberserve how your mind acts when you believe you must do something. The easiest way to start this is to observe how the body reacts. If it's tight, relax it. Try to breathe in a way that calms
user279311
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-20T21:39:33.063Z
@SurajPandey Also please upvote an answer, after you ask a question, if you feel it helped you. This helps others see something that may help them.
user279311
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-17T00:27:19.150Z
2020-01-17T00:27:19.150Z
2020-06-17T09:56:10.877Z
user279311
<p>what to do with these sensations,these happens all day,why i have to resist to itch   i am wondering when i can simply itch that move on.</p>

<vipassana>
why i have to resist itching/tingling sensations
# why i have to resist itching/tingling sensations

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-16)

what to do with these sensations,these happens all day,why i have to resist to itch i am wondering when i can simply itch that move on.

**Tags:** vipassana


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-01-17. Score: 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](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/mindfulnessdefined.html)

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](https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/ChantingGuide/Section0007.html):

> 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.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: scratching feels good while resisting it creates confusion in my mind that why i am not allowed to scratch,that persistent confusion drives me to scratching again ):  
> **username_1**: Scratching does feel good. How does your mind feel with relation to that pleasure?  Resisiting also feels pointless and causes confusion. How does tension build from resisting scratching? Does your breathing quicken? Does your chest tighten? Does your face tighten?  An itch is a microcosm for how the mind causes itself suffering. Don't think "I'm not allowed to scratch". Vipassana is not dogmatic. Oberserve how your mind acts when you believe you must do something. The easiest way to start this is to observe how the body reacts. If it's tight, relax it. Try to breathe in a way that calms  
> **username_1**: @SurajPandey Also please upvote an answer, after you ask a question, if you feel it helped you. This helps others see something that may help them.  

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