Understanding Suffering

This is a short section from the book, High Altitude Meditation by Doug Kraft.

The Buddha never said “Life is Suffering.” He said it had suffering. If we look deeply and clearly and heartfully enough, we see suffering is an inevitable part of life. It is part of the mix. It’s part of how we are wired. We aren’t to blame.

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His [the Buddha’s] full instructions were, “suffering is to be understood.”

Many people have the impulse to run from suffering. This is understandable, but often not wise. Turning toward it, we may discover something liberating.

When we look deeply beneath our hurt or discouragement, we will find tenderness. Without tenderness, we wouldn’t be hurt. So, it will be there.

If we look deeply into tenderness, we’ll see openness and receptivity below the ache. Without openness, we would not feel the tenderness.

If we settle into the openness, we find the path to awakening our higher instincts. We move toward freedom and well-being.

Many people would like to go from suffering to freedom and well-being and by-pass the tenderness and opening up. That is understandable. But when you see it doesn’t work, please take this as wisdom:

The way out is through.

As we surrender into something and emerge with newfound clarity, we feel more joyful and expansive.

Doug Kraft