Are you in a place of suffering and not sure how to move forward?
Philosophies/ religions/ traditions give us many perspectives in which to look at pain and how to find relief. In our search for awareness, though, we are often left with more questions than answers. It is in that stuck place, when we hold onto pain, that it becomes something more – suffering.
The Four Noble Truths are the essence of Buddhism. They are the wise words that help us understand that suffering is real and we experience it for a reason. Also, the wisdom to help us cope as we suffer knowing it will not last forever – we have the power to move past it.
With Rachel Gordon as a guide, read on to understand how The Four Noble Truths can be used in the context of your real life in this present moment.
Rachel tells us:
Being a human is hard.
Does it have to be?
In exchange for being human we have the opportunity to face problems just like we face storms that may seem unpredictable and turbulent. It’s possible to gain insight and understanding, but we will not walk through storms unscathed. The troubles we encounter will cause us real pain and also suffering. That is a fact.
Do all humans suffer in the same way?
Being a human is hard…but how hard is based on our reaction to difficulty.
It is uncomfortable to let go of the things we want, the things we’ve worked so hard for, the things we think we deserve or desire. Also, growing with knowledge about ourselves takes lots of work. Sometimes it feels better to stay oblivious. Pain is inevitable as we become wise. But the way in which we deal with pain, how we choose to weather the storm, has a direct impact on how we suffer.
Hold on or let go?
There is suffering when we tether ourselves to either the past or the future. The only place where we do any type of living is THIS VERY MOMENT. And we must keep moving.
Detaching from what we know and don’t know – moving away from our egos and into our hearts – helps us face pain less the suffering. How long we hold on or whether we let go determines at which level we will suffer.
Will this storm last forever?
As humans we suffer, but it will pass.
The storms we face, our suffering, has a beginning and an end. How long the storm lasts and when/ if we choose to step out of the winds for a bit is entirely within our own control. Suffering is just weather in the sky. Let it come, let it go.
How do we make the suffering end?
Everything you need to end suffering you already have.
If you want your suffering to end, you must search for what is inside of you. Breathe and come back to center and reconnect with the Love that you are so pain can stay pain without the burden of undue suffering.
Difficult times are guaranteed. How we move through them is something we have the power to manage. It is comforting to know that all we need to weather a storm is available within us if we are willing to utilize that which is innate.
How do I become more in tune with the Love that I embody?
Please contact Rachel Gordon if you have questions about Buddhist psychology and integrative, holistic techniques to address mental health issues and promote total body wellness. If you live in the Denver/ Castle Rock area and would like to learn more about what Rachel has to offer through Humble Warrior Therapy, please call (303) 688-6698 or click here to schedule.
Tags: Buddhist Psychology, Mindfulness, Pain, Suffering, The Four Noble Truths