[Biashpainabix]

I have medical problems that are rare, cause illness, chronic pain, doctor appointments, need for medical supplies, surgeries etc. I haven't read much yet but I read this http://www.dhammasukha.org/Study/Tal...T-MAR03-TS.htm article, and I was wondering...if in buddhism a person is supposed to let go of suffering, how does this apply to medical problems that cause physical suffering?

I do what I can but my medical issues are rare (I have vacterl association and some other miscellaneous issues if anyone is wondering) and I can only do so much and do the best I can in taking care of myself physically. I can not get rid of all my physical pain and suffering, it is not possible. Or if it will be someday with technology they haven't yet figured out it isn't yet.

I am 23 and in just the last couple of years they've figured stuff out I wish they had figured out when I was a kid because it explains a lot and could be helpful so I know I shouldn't say it won't ever be possible, who knows what's to come in the future but as of right now there is no way to cure all my physical medical problems.

From what I understand so far (which I haven't read much or done anything yet so that's not much) my attitudes at times and feelings about my medical situations could change for the better and it seems great to me, but i'm wondering if because I can't get rid of medical issues that I have little to no control over that causes chronic suffering if that means...I don't know how to put it.

What are Buddhism's thoughts on medical problems like that? Does that mean if someone has medical issues like me they shouldn't bother with meditating at all like that because they can't end their suffering 100% even if they could still benefit from it?

I hope this makes sense. I'm not always that great with getting thoughts into words..

[P3bWjm1j]

Buddhism is about ending mental suffering not physical suffering, physical suffering can't be avoided even for those of us who are pretty healthy but mental suffering is optional. The Buddha got sick, and died, just like everyone else.

There is the physical suffering, and then there is the mental reaction to it, the later tends to get out of control and compound itself if wisdom is not present, pretty soon everything is a whole lot worse.

It might be difficult at first but try to view your physical suffering as an opportunity, an opportunity to learn to face up to that which is unpleasant and learn to be with it without reactivity.

Avoiding the unpleasant and experiencing the pleasant is not what's important, what is important is being fully awake and aware of those experiences.

[HagsPusia]

welcome Aquababy

your post made alot of sense & was very clear

in respect to the Four Noble Truths, they explain the 'suffering' of the mind rather than the 'pain' of the body. Buddhism distinguishes very clearly between (i) physical pain & (ii) mental suffering. buddhism explains mental suffering is not physical pain but, instead, a mental reaction to physical pain

the Four Noble Truths explain suffering is caused by the mind wishing to not have physical pain & the mind's self-identification with physical pain. to the contrary, if the mind accepts chronic physical pain as the norm then mental suffering will not occur (despite the obvious discomfort)

the 2nd Noble Truth explains craving-to-be [without physical pain] & craving not-to-be [with physical pain] are the causes of suffering

as you mentioned, the Four Noble Truths are about the "attitude" that causes mental suffering &, alternately, about the "attitude" that brings freedom from mental suffering

about the physical body and why disease occurs, Buddha taught it is the inherent nature of the physical body to be subject to disease. the Buddha called the physical body "rupa", which means: "that which will be broken; that which will be afflicted"

disease to the physical body can happen anytime in a life cycle, such as in the womb, in childhood, in adulthood or in old age

naturally, it is not considered fortunate to be born with a physical disease from birth however the nature of nature does result in this occuring. in fact, due to medical technology, many children born today live, where, without medical technology, they would have passed away. so medical technology does given the opportunity for life so life can be understood in an enlightened way

that said, it is certainly possible a medical cure for vacterl association be found. for example, there is a company called Mesoblast that is developing spinal regenerative technology using adult stem cells

but Buddha taught inevitably, each human being will be subject to pain, illness & disease

so, to summarise, the Four Noble Truths are about the attitude of mind which brings freedom from suffering by accepting the unsatisfactory aspects of life that are beyond our control

in his 1st sermon, Buddha taught about the Four Noble Truths. in his 2nd sermon, the Buddha taught about those unsatisfactory aspects of life that cannot be controlled

naturally, we should continue do as much and the best we can in taking care of ourself physically

kind regards

element

[ZesePreodaNed]

Thank you both. That does help it to be much clearer.

Doctor's said when I was baby if I had been born just a few years sooner, due to lack of medical technology, I would have passed away as a baby. The thing with vacterl association is each letter stands for something different, it's an acronym, and there are different things associated with each letter and different severities (and you only need 3 of the letters to be diagnosed with it but I got all) so really no 2 people with vacterl association are exactly the same with medical issues. However that's not really important in this case.

Thank you both for responding and it does make it much clearer to me now. I will definitely continue to research and start meditating. I've meditated before, unrelated to Buddhism, just not much and really have wanted to get back to that. I just keep making excuses that really don't matter and i'm not even sure why.

[Catieliecutty]

Hello Aquababy,

There is not too much to add to Element's advise. Physical pain, deterioration, aging and death is unavoidable. It is not under our control. It is nature's business. It is the mental torment that is added to it what we can stop and end.

For example,

It is known that Luang Por Chah, an awakened teacher I appreciate, fell seriously ill and ended paralyzed until ten years until the time he passed away. It seems that he spent that time with no mental torment; at ease with things and happenings.

Thunder in an Open Sky, pp. 26-28.

Best wishes,

[Gremlinn]

That sounds great. It actually gives me hope, knowing that it's possible to not have mental torment and be happy despite physical illnesses and such.

I mean i'm not saying i'm never happy despite my medical problems. I have wonderful friends and family that keep me happy to be alive and keep going, and like anyone I have my good and bad days. I also know things could be worse and i'm grateful for what I have. With that being said though i'd be lying if I said I never had any mental torment from having my medical issues. They can be frustrating, aggravating, depressing, cause anger etc. Depending on pain, doctors and whatnot.

And of course other life stuff that most people deal with because it's life.

Thank you. I bookmarked the Thunder in an Open Sky reading and will read it later.

[KuznehikVasaN]

Hi Aquababy,

I don't have your pain or your medical problems but I do have a growth inside the top of my spinal chord in the neck area which could paralyse me completely from the neck down at any time, as well as cause loss of control of all body functions.

I'm not even able to have a biopsy, its too dangerous to do it because that in itself could cause paralysis - and so there's no treatment available. It's not cancer because its been there with little progression for too long

I've been aware of this for a number of years, it was first discovered because of pain in the back of my head. There's no record as to how long its been there.I have to have MRI scans and tests on my arms and legs to keep a check on it. However, it hasn't increased in size for the last few years. I've accepted it, life goes on, I carry on practising and very rarely even think about it at all until its time for the next check-up.

Anyway, I'm not suggesting that this compares with the difficulties that you have yourself. I don't really have anything to add to what was already said by Goofaholix and Element previously, other than to sincerely give you all my good wishes.

Aloka

[krek-sikUp]

Oh wow. I'm so sorry. I'd be beyond stressed in that situation always worried..I wish you the best of luck.

Though what I just said people have said to me after hearing all my medical issues (which are personal and way too much to put here anyway) and I am always worried...but for different reasons. I really wish you the best of luck. I don't have control over some body functions that the normal healthy person does but not due to any paralysis.

I'm glad you can do that though, not think about it much and go on with life. Best of luck.

[singleGirl]

Best of luck.

Thank you.

I wonder if this meditation video about physical pain might be of any help to you, Aquababy ?

Its part (no 9) of a Buddhist Meditation series on You Tube by Ajahn Jayasaro which I've also mentioned in a Meditation thread in our Study Links section at the bottom of the main forums page.

[prowsnobswend]

That does help. Though I think i'd actually have to try meditating to understand it completely at some points.

As for pain, i'm always in some pain but I have my "normal" pain, which I don't really react to and just go about life because i'm used to it, then their is the rare good day where I actually feel a little better than my usual and of course the bad days, which there is reactions to.

Thank you for the video, i'll go look at the other first 8 parts too. It's a nice video and is helpful, might help if I look at the first 8 parts too .