CH23: Classroom Drills — Present-Flow Mini-Labs (Vedanā → Taṇhā)

At-a-glance: Practice Kit • C2 pivot in real time

A. Definition & place in DO

• Mini-labs are short, repeatable classroom activities that train the Present Effect → Present Cause hinge: phassa → vedanā → taṇhā (C2).

• Placement: within the Present segment of the wheel (Ch02); vedanā is vipāka, taṇhā is kilesa (Ch03).

• Aim: help learners (i) distinguish result vs. reaction, (ii) recognize C2 early, (iii) apply tiny cooling actions so upādāna → (kamma)bhava do not ignite (SN 12.1; definitions per SN 12.2).

B. Mechanism (how the drills target C2)

• Timing first: name the door and contact before the tone; then label vedanā with a single word (pleasant/neutral/painful).

• Lean detection: watch the pull/push/fog impulse; name it once as taṇhā (SN 12.2 sixfold craving).

• Cooling move: a micro-relax (jaw/chest/hands), one slow exhale, or a re-aimed intention; this prevents upādāna and (kamma)bhava from forming (SN 12.1).

C. Practice (mini-labs, 3–6 minutes each)

1. Six-Door Relay (whole class, 5 min)

   • Material: a chime or phone tone; one picture; a pinch of spice (optional), a fabric square; one simple idea prompt on screen.

   • Run (30–40 sec per station):

     1. Eye–Form: show the image → learners whisper “eye—form—contact—pleasant/neutral/painful.”

     2. Ear–Sound: play chime → same script.

     3. Nose–Odor: pass spice (optional).

     4. Tongue–Taste: imagine lemon (or sip water) — still label tone.

     5. Body–Tactile: touch fabric.

     6. Mind–Idea: display a single word (“deadline”/“holiday”).

   • Coach cue: after the tone word, ask “Any lean?” If yes, name “taṇhā,” then one slow exhale.

   • Success: 80% of learners can run the script without commentary.

2. Vedanā Stop-Watch (pairs, 4 min)

   • Material: phone timer.

   • Run: Partner A attends to a small stimulus (itch/thought). A names: “contact → [tone],” starts the timer, and waits while tracking the tone until it changes. Stop timer, report seconds. Partner B observes posture tension and signals relax (jaw/chest/hands) if a lean appears. Swap.

   • Lesson: tones are impermanent; we don’t need a reaction to end them.

   • Success: each pair records at least one tone change without acting on taṇhā.

3. C2 Freeze-Frame & Re-aim (solo, 3–5 min)

   • Material: sticky note at a known trigger (tab bar/phone).

   • Run: When urge spikes, say: “vipāka felt,” then “taṇhā” (if leaning). Freeze for one breath, re-aim a single action to a path factor (e.g., right speech: soften reply; right effort: close tab; generosity: share).

   • Journal line: “Tone → Lean → (Re-aim:) …”

   • Success: at least one re-aimed micro-action during the lab.

4. Four-Clinging Spotter (optional add-on, 3 min)

   • Material: board with the four labels: sensuality / views / rites-&-rituals / self-doctrine.

   • Run: After any lean, class points to the most likely upādāna category (SN 12.2). One learner offers a lighter replacement line (e.g., “Pleasant—changing,” “One view among many,” “Tool, not guarantee,” “Processes, not a self”).

   • Success: each category used once with a fitting replacement line.

D. Cross-links

• Ch13–15 Doors→Contact→Feeling (precision of timing).

• Ch16–17 Taṇhā/Upādāna (what we’re preventing).

• Ch06 C2 connection (why this hinge matters).

• Ch21–22 Present-aspect map & “No being, only aggregates” (de-reifying during drills).

Sources

SN 12.1; SN 12.2; SN 36 (Vedanā-saṁyutta).

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QR Footer (left → right)

• Audio QR-CH23-AUD1 — Six-Door Relay coach track. (Alt: “QR to audio: guide for door→tone drills”)

• Video QR-CH23-VID1 — C2 Freeze-Frame classroom demo. (Alt: “QR to video: live vedanā→taṇhā interruption”)

• Slides QR-CH23-PPT1 — Mini-Labs kit (timers, scripts). (Alt: “QR to slides: classroom mini-lab deck”)

• Prompt QR-CH23-PRM1 — Vedanā Stop-Watch sheet. (Alt: “QR to prompt: tone-change timing log”)

Next: Ch24 — Teacher Toolkit: Lesson Plans, Objectives, Assessments (5E).