Who Is Having This Pain?

I deeply appreciate Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's reflections on pain. We all experience different kinds of pain such as physical, mental, emotional, relational and spiritual in our life. We cannot avoid it or escape from it. How we relate to our pain is very crucial. We cannot avoid our pain. Denying pain, ignoring pain, resisting pain and fighting pain is not a wise way of relating to pain. Pain is not our enemy. When I go through pain I accept it and take it as a signal to take care of it in a wise way. This way I can be a friend to my pain rather than an enemy. By resisting my pain I fight against my own pain. I turn my "inner world into a private war zone." It is up to me to choose and follow the wise way-neither denying nor fighting but by accepting it.
I have had all kinds of pain -physical, mental , emotional and relational-in my relatively long life. As I am getting older I experience more physical pain. Sometimes sad feelings and thoughts about my passing away from this world come to my mind as I am getting older. Sometimes thoughts about departing from my family, friends and my community pass through my mind. I have learnt not to deny, resist, or fight with my pain. I keep my body, mind and heart open and let my pain come and go. This way of relating to my pain eases my pain and in this way I befriend my pain. Practicing mindfulness, non judgemental, compassionate and friendly awareness has been very helpful to me in relating to my pain. There is no need to fight against ourselves but to go with the flow of life and live wisely and fully.
​Namaste!