Vedanā, usually translated as 'feeling' refers to the tone of experience - pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. In the absence of mindfulness and wisdom, feeling provides the condition for the arising of craving (taṇhā). This craving is the cause of mental suffering. Awareness of vedanā as merely vedanā, not me or mine, prevents the arising of craving and of dukkha.

Here are some expressions of craving that can arise when we experience unpleasant feeling:

Go away.
Leave me alone.
I don't want this.
I don't need this in my life right now.
Why me?
Why always me?
It's not fair.
It shouldn't be like this.
It's not what I want.
I can't bear it.

For non-meditators these reactions are assured to be caused by the feeling, rather than unnecessarily added on to it. Through Dhamma practice we can prove to ourselves that vedanā can be experienced without craving. There can be pain and discomfort without suffering.

- Ajahn Jayasāro