Bill! and Mike,
Is it not the case that zazen or vipasana can also help alleviate pain?
--ED
--- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote:
>
> Merle,
>
> I am also 66!
>
> I'm about to give you some of my definitions of terms and they're
pretty 'tough-love' definitions so be warned...
>
> Pain is NOT suffering. Pain is pain. Suffering is feeling sorry for
yourself (your self) because perhaps you're in pain and that does not
meet up with your expectations and disappoints you.
>
> You do not have to suffer.
>
> The best example I know of this is a 3-legged dog. I'm sure you've
seen many of them. They aren't suffering because (I presume) they don't
have a strong 'mental model' of 'self'. They don't feel sorry for
themselves. They don't compare themselves to other dogs. They just make
do with what they've got. I've seen dogs with only 2 legs and they don't
act any differently than those with 4. You could be a little
condescending and say 'they don't know any better' - when actually you
should be just saying 'they don't know' - and good for them.
>
> Contrast that with a human who has lost a leg. Many such humans will
suffer. They'll wonder 'why me'? 'What did I do to deserve this?' And be
envious of full-bodied humans who can do more and have more than they.
Why? Because they DO have a strong 'mental model' of 'self' and have
expectations of what life SHOULD be like, and do compare themselves with
others. Their life is not like others (the majority) and this
disappoints them so they suffer.
>
> Zazen can help...
>
> ...Bill!
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