ED, Yes, there are mental techniques that can diminish physical pain as well as suffering... Some are standard in pain treatment clinics...
Edgar On Sep 11, 2012, at 10:16 AM, ED wrote: > > > 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! > >
