DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - How do we deal with physical suffering (self and others)

**ManHolDenPoker** · 07-09-2011, 11:31 AM

I know freedom from sufffering is a sort of state of mind, and adjusting how you are thinking. If someone is clearly suffering with something terrible like cancer (my partner's parents both died when she was young), how can I reconcile those things? How can one adjust their mind for something troubling?

Welcome BiBuddhistRN

I personally like to approach Buddhism from the different levels its teaches. Buddhist teachings are on three levels, i.e., the ethical level, the concentration level and the wisdom level.

As cancer is an incurrable inevitable disease, it can only be approached from a wisdom level. As terrible as it is, cancer offers us no choice but to learn to accept it.

Therefore, we can only adjust our thinking by thinking repeatedly (something like): "Aging, sickness & death happen to all; it cannot be otherwise".

So, although our mind is going to feel sad and feel grief, we can reconcile those feelings by repeatedly thinking according to reality: ""Aging, sickness & death happen to all; it cannot be othewise".

In Buddhism, such continuous thinking is called wise reflection. Wise reflection is something 'cultivated'. Cultivation is called 'bhavana'.

The practice is to adjust our thinking over and over again, until the mind develops a sense of acceptance. When the mind has acceptance, it will have a peaceful or accommodative perspective (even though it may still feel sad and feel grief). The mind's feelings will be balanced with wisdom/understanding. The heart will balance with the head.

So some instruction and examples from the Buddhist scriptures are posted below.

Kind regards

Element

[The Buddha said:]

There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

Which five?

I am subject to aging. Have I gone beyond aging?

I am subject to illness. Have I gone beyond illness?

I am subject to death. Have I gone beyond death?

I will be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me.

I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I will be the heir.

These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

Upajjhatthana Sutta: Subjects for Contemplation "Gone beyond" means to be comfortable with it; not adversely affected by it.

07-09-2011, 11:31 AM	#11
ManHolDenPoker Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 454 Senior Member	I know freedom from sufffering is a sort of state of mind, and adjusting how you are thinking. If someone is clearly suffering with something terrible like cancer (my partner's parents both died when she was young), how can I reconcile those things? How can one adjust their mind for something troubling? Welcome BiBuddhistRN I personally like to approach Buddhism from the different levels its teaches. Buddhist teachings are on three levels, i.e., the ethical level, the concentration level and the wisdom level. As cancer is an incurrable inevitable disease, it can only be approached from a wisdom level. As terrible as it is, cancer offers us no choice but to learn to accept it. Therefore, we can only adjust our thinking by thinking repeatedly (something like): "Aging, sickness & death happen to all; it cannot be otherwise". So, although our mind is going to feel sad and feel grief, we can reconcile those feelings by repeatedly thinking according to reality: ""Aging, sickness & death happen to all; it cannot be othewise". In Buddhism, such continuous thinking is called wise reflection. Wise reflection is something 'cultivated'. Cultivation is called 'bhavana'. The practice is to adjust our thinking over and over again, until the mind develops a sense of acceptance. When the mind has acceptance, it will have a peaceful or accommodative perspective (even though it may still feel sad and feel grief). The mind's feelings will be balanced with wisdom/understanding. The heart will balance with the head. So some instruction and examples from the Buddhist scriptures are posted below. Kind regards Element [The Buddha said:] There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five? I am subject to aging. Have I gone beyond aging? I am subject to illness. Have I gone beyond illness? I am subject to death. Have I gone beyond death? I will be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me. I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I will be the heir. These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Upajjhatthana Sutta: Subjects for Contemplation "Gone beyond" means to be comfortable with it; not adversely affected by it.
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