Answer by Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena for Benefits of "Mental Noting" during positive events?

Is there something I'm doing wrong or missing here?

According to the the original Buddhist teachings in the Suttas you should be aware of:

the latent tendency to lust reinforced by being attached to pleasant feelings

Pahāna Sutta

Also similar passages in: Cūla Vedalla Sutta, Mahā Vedalla Sutta, Samma Ditthi Sutta, Cha Chakka Sutta, Dhātu Vibhaṅga Sutta, Titth’ayatana Sutta

Where does the latent tendency of sensual lust lie latent?

The latent tendency of sensual lust lies latent here in the two feelings [pleasant and neutral] of the sense-sphere

Quote from Pm §587/123, Vbh §816/341, cf S 45.175 in Anusaya by Piya Tan

Cha Chakka Sutta goes to the extent that is is not possible if you delight in the plesent.

...

Latent tendencies

LATENT TENDENCIES ARISING THROUGH THE EYE. Bhikshus, dependent on eye and forms, eye-consciousness arises.

When the three meet, there is contact. Dependent on contact, there is what is felt as pleasant, or as painful, or as neither pleasant nor painful.

When one is touched by a pleasant feeling, one delights in it, welcomes it, remains attached to it. Thus one’s latent tendency of lust (rāgânusaya) lies latent.

When one is touched by a painful feeling, one sorrows, grieves, laments, beats one’s breast and falls into confusion. Thus one’s latent tendency of aversion (paṭighânusaya) lies latent.

When one is touched by a feeling that is neither pleasant nor painful, one does not understand it as it really is, the arising, the passing away, the gratification, the danger, and the escape with regards to that feeling. Thus one’s latent tendency of ignorance (avijjā’nusaya) lies latent.

Bhikshus, that one could make an end of suffering here and now, without abandoning lust for pleasurable feelings, without removing aversion towards painful feelings, without uprooting ignorance towards feelings that are neither pleasant nor painful this is IMPOSSIBLE.

...

Abandoning the latent tendencies

ABANDONING LATENT TENDENCIES ARISING THROUGH THE EYE.

...

Bhikshus, that one could make an end of suffering here and now, having abandoned lust for pleasurable feelings, having removed aversion towards painful feelings, having uprooted ignorance towards feelings that are neither pleasant nor painful this is POSSIBLE.

...

So what ever pleasantness you experience be aware of:

• arising and passing nature
• keeping you mind firmly equanimous.

Benefits of “Mental Noting” during positive events?

Any metal verbalisation creates Verbal Fabrications which you should explicitly avoid or your practice should be such that leads to ending of fabrication than creating them. Creating fabrication means future existence and misery hence hence there is little benefit though this might help develop a shallow form of Samadhi. See: Vedalla Suttas, Samma Ditthi Sutta.

Formations

Saying, “Good avuso,” the monks delighted and rejoiced in the venerable Sariputta’s words.

Then they asked him a further question: “But, avuso, might there be another way in which a noble disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, attained to wise faith in the Dharma, and has arrived at this true teaching?”

“There might be, avuso.

When, avuso, a noble disciple

understands formations (sankhara),

understands the arising of formations,

understands the ending of formations, and

understands the way leading to the ending of formations,

in that way, avuso, he is one of right view , whose view is straight, attained to wise faith in the Dharma, and has arrived at this true teaching.

And what are formations, what is the arising of formations, what is the ending of formations,

what is the way leading to the ending of formations?

There are, avuso, these three kinds of formations:

the bodily formation,

the verbal formation,

the mental formation.

With the arising of ignorance, there is the arising of formations.

With the ending of ignorance, there is the ending of formations.

The way leading to the ending of formations is just this noble eightfold path, that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

It seems that long-term noting will cause me to put a distance between pleasurable moments just as it would with negative ones?

This is because noting there is Vitarka & Vicara (also see: Vitakka,vicāra by Piya Tan) creating access concentration. Though this process is creating fabrication which is negative the Samadhi part is gives a positive result. The net result of the -ve and +ve aspect will change from mental state you are in when practicing and net result will be hard to quantify hence should be avoided. People who might have benefited from this may have practiced in such a way that there was a net positive result, but this might not always the case for everyone and the same person at different times.

I enjoy such emotions and whatever pain I experience from them being so fleeting is worth it. I'd rather maintain the duration by which I experience such moments, not shorten it with noting. I'm not sure what perspective to have in such cases and whether there is some greater benefit to continuing to do this for all situations?

Trying to shorten it is aversion and trying to prolong it is clinging which are extremes you want to avoid.

To get the best benefit follow Pahāna Sutta:

Bhikshus, there are these three kinds of feelings.

What are the three? Pleasant feeling, painful feeling, neutral feeling.

Bhikshus,

the latent tendency of lust should be abandoned in regard to pleasant feeling;

the latent tendency of aversion should be abandoned in regard to painful feeling;

the latent tendency of ignorance should be abandoned in regard to neutral feeling.

Bhikshus, when a monk

has abandoned the latent tendency of lust in regard to pleasant feeling;

has abandoned the latent tendency of aversion in regard to painful feeling;

has abandoned the latent tendency of ignorance in regard to neutral feeling—

then, bhikshus. he is called a monk without any latent tendency, one who sees rightly. He has cut off craving, undone the fetters,18 and fully penetrating conceit, he has made an end of suffering.”

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