[advabHixavoip]

'The Insulting Truth' - a talk by Ajahn Munindo

URL


"The real teacher is that experience that shows us the consequence of being attached to and identified as something that is inherently limited."

[Sopsneork]

Any comments about the talk and about embracing suffering as a teacher ?

[sirmzereigMix]

I'm going to reframe the question a bit.

The mind state of dissatisfaction and agitation/combustion (commonly referred to as "suffering") isn't something that "happens to us" - the causes of dukkha aren't separate from us, or "out there" somewhere - they don't attack us. We're not surrounded by Dukkha, we manufacture it...we vomit it up. Dukkha is a byproduct of our drama, our ignorant reaction to appearances and circumstances that are inherently empty but that we project our narratives of dissatisfaction onto, then agitate/combust, then indulge in grabbing and pushing away.

So...I don't think that Buddhism suggests that we embrace this mind state as our teacher, even though more than a few teachers do suggest this. I think it actually, under all the froth, teaches the antidote to embracing this mind state and the myriad unskillful dis-easing, endangering reactions that flow from it. We're real good at embracing it, getting sticky with it, identifying with it, rutting it. We love to get gooey with Dukkha.

The goal is to not embrace this mind state, not masturbate with it, not get off on it, not get swept away in it's energy and caught in it's groove - but rather to step back, look it spang in the eye, and let it go...shifting the internal figure/ground configuration...understanding that what's "out there" - the appearances and circumstances that we love to externalize and blame - isn't the cause of our mind state...our own ignorance and drama is the cause.

This requires taking responsibility for the quality of our vision and our lack of restraint in our relationship to what we see/experience. Rather than embracing whatever the world hurls at us, I would suggest maybe "owning our own shit" and letting go of our self-preciousness would be a more effective way to deal with the weather of daily life.

[Aeaefee]

We're not surrounded by Dukkha, we manufacture it...we vomit it up. Dukkha is a byproduct of our drama, our ignorant reaction to appearances and circumstances that are inherently empty but that we project our narratives of dissatisfaction onto, then agitate/combust, then indulge in grabbing and pushing away.

This is a core understanding in Zen tradition... and it is at the root of the four noble truths. Personaly this is the way we have to move from the four noble truths (be aware of "your" suffering) into the eightfold noble path...

Again... Thanks pink dear,

Namaste

[Seesspoxy]

Suffering should be observed.
The cause of suffering should be abandoned.
The cessation of suffering should be appeared.
The eightfold path should be developed.

[Ferkilort]

We love to get gooey with Dukkha

We sure do.

[icedrakona]

Suffering should be observed.
The cause of suffering should be abandoned.
The cessation of suffering should be appeared.
The eightfold path should be developed.

Beautifull and clearly told,

Thanks Sukitlek dear,