Comments on: Pain and suffering: a contemplative perspective

By: Meditation increases pain tolerance « Beyond Meds

Meditation increases pain tolerance « Beyond Meds — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:03:33 +0000

[...] I wrote a story about my excruciating pain that magically disappeared once in a state of momentary enlightenment of some sort. Read it here. [...]

By: Pain—emotional or physical « Beyond Meds

Pain—emotional or physical « Beyond Meds — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:15:47 +0000

[...] with either emotional pain or physical pain is really quite similar. I explore this in an old post on my endometriosis pain while I was dealing with the pain of the loss of my [...]

By: against medical advice

against medical advice — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:16:42 +0000

et portae inferi non praevalebunt

since my failed therapist appointment there’s been a cloud over my head. the sky is a bit greyer, life a bit more doomed. the first night i had a dream in which i was desperately trying to but couldn’t wake up. since the least amount of str…

By: giannakali

giannakali — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:54:49 +0000

Thank you everyone.
Stephanie, your vulnerability in sharing that pain meant a lot to me.

Most of the time I am so tired lately I just don’t write too much in response to people–but I’m grateful for your input (ama and Jayme–that means you too!) Very grateful. It makes me feel less alone and like someone understands.

By: Jayme

Jayme — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:30:42 +0000

Oh Gina, you got it! This is what made me whole. This is the most empowering concept I’ve ever encountered.

By: ama

ama — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:48:29 +0000

i agree with stephany (and thank you, stephany, for sharing your pain), what you write here is beautiful and it rings as deeply true to me. i am a catholic and i find, as you yourself say, that christian mysticism is not dissimilar at all to what shinzen young describes. fighting pain (resisting to pain) only adds to the pain. pain accepted is much easier and sweeter to deal with. now, i’ve got to say that this pain acceptance stuff is pretty damn difficult. i mean, when you are in pain it’s extremely hard to say, “yes, i accept this, i let it flow,” and even though i try i often fail at it. the qi gong will help, i’m sure, and i hope you will share what you learn there with us.

clearly, there is a contemplative dimension to you (see title of your blog!) which the tremendous pain has tapped into and revivified. it’s a beautiful gift and i’m happy you have this to help you along.

i’d also like to add that it is SO NICE that the pain of your brother’s death and the physical pain you were experiencing joined forces to make you feel that special relief. and it is SO NICE that what the priest said helped in this. regardless of the specific christian imagery you came up with, you were able to put psychic pain and physical pain together, and that happened through the kindness of another, and another (the priest, your brother). it’s all connected, and we are all connected. enlightenment often comes through the love of others. sometimes people we least imagine will bring solace to us. just think of it: a little priest of a religion you don’t respect at your brother’s funeral! talk about silver lining!

thank you.

By: Stephany

Stephany — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:37:00 +0000

This is really good Gianna. It’s what I don’t generally talk about, but it is all similar to the pain of what I’ve been going through in the last 2 years. When I gut-sob, I often feel it was like a cleansing and often connected to a spirtual experience, hard to put into words. I sometimes think to myself, that it felt like I vomited up emotional agony if that makes sense. During the last several months, as you know I lost my dear friend as well as the events in my daughter’s life. Extreme emotional turmoil, and many times feeling a spiritual awakening of sort as a result of the rawest times of pure agony, and they too were associated with extreme menstrual pain and basic hemorrage[sp] each time, unable to walk and blood pouring, literally out. This is the only place I would write that, because you eloquently and I think bravely, speak about that, I generally don’t talk about it. Twice I had to be escorted by nurses as I was doubled over in pain [non-typical for me] and bleeding profusely[not typical either] at 2 inpatient hospitals where my daughter resided. Each time was when it was in battle to get her out and hospitals blocked it with their attorneys that I couldnt afford. I hope this wasn’t inappropriate to write here, but wanted to say, that though our experiences are not exact, they carry some of the same pain, and I too have felt this connection you speak of, and have found solace in the studies you talk of and also do recommend Tai Chi etc. for that takes you into the next level of healing that pain, by mentally taking you somewhere else, while moving your body, which is a good combination for healing. Thanks for sharing this, I knew you were going to be able to move the grief forward. Take care, Stephany