My heart seems to always be in pain

Simplify

I've been spending some attention looking at my reactions and things and the feelings associated with them and it seems that although I was completely blind to this, my heart, the feeling in the center of my chest, is quite often in pain, in both fear and desire reactions/impulses.

You think this is common?

Quiet_witness

Do you need to see a cardiologist (I know many) or are you referring to a figurative heart-pain.

As I took the next step in my practice, my compassion for others seemed almost too much to handle. I saw a car drive off a cliff (I didn't know anyone involved) but started to cry randomly and I felt so much pain for them. I don't think my compassion has dwindled since then but I understand the suffering others experience better and this pain I was feeling isn't so intense.

Simplify

more figurative.

for example if I feel insulted, or threatened, or feel I might be wrong or weak, or judged, or if someone cuts me off in traffic I feel it in my heart

and yes with other people, I was out for a run and saw an old lady with a walker and she didn't even look at me

BrotherBob

I imagine it's common for those who have clear awareness and compassion. It seems I once heard it said, I think it was in Shambhala training, that the Spiritual Warrior always feels a mixture of pleasure and pain in response to stuff happening. I think this is also described as some kind of fundamental suffering associated with the fact that we're alive in samsara. A realm pervaded by both happiness and suffering. I've also heard the term, 'The Heart Breaking Open.' How painful may that be!?!

I like this way of putting it:

Sad/Joy, Sad/Joy
Tranquil Tenderness
Exquisite!

Celebrate it, it's a good thing!!

:):)

NamelessRiver

I've been spending some attention looking at my reactions and things and the feelings associated with them and it seems that although I was completely blind to this, my heart, the feeling in the center of my chest, is quite often in pain, in both fear and desire reactions/impulses.

You think this is common?

Yes and no. That is a place we eventually reach when we start paying attention to what goes on in our mind and stop hiding from ourselves. It is a sort of pre-verbal raw pain, that pushes you to your old patterns. Everybody has it but it is well concealed, although I had this experience I wouldn't say it was on my chest area, though.

It is also easy to loose sight of it or cover it up. You can count it as being a counter-blissful experience. :P I suggest you take the opportunity to practice Lojong and learn to work with it without pushing it away.

TheFound

TheFound thinks the following:

Yes it is common.
You are weak. You know you are weak.
Jealousy, you feel.
Wanting , you feel.
Pity and sadness, etc..
Inadequate as you are, the truth is, you've got it all wrong.

lucky for you, TheFound will tell you how it is;

F*** someone that has more than you, they will lose more when they die.

if someone cuts you off in traffic, f*** him, at least you aren't the idiot.
If someone bothers you, or a situation bothers you. ask yourself why? don't let your "heart" do the reacting. YOU do the reacting.

also, you aren't inadequate- you can't be, if you were inadequate you would not be alive. If you are a living and breathing human being, you are already a miracle of nature.

And about this "heart" business, you have no heart, only a physical blood pumping muscle super structure and a bunch of psychological complexes.
take it like that, cold blooded and...calculating.

Simplify

Braveheart?

Mel Gibson is the metaphorical spiritual leader of the West.

But I only see that tough guy at the movies (and fake blood nevertheless!)

BrotherBob

Sadly, I've known being a coward very well. Bravery's not about being tough for me. It's about facing and enduring hardship or danger. So, what's harder or more dangerous than to face and deal with our own habitual delusions that make our world a place of suffering?

RichardH

Simplify wrote: »

I've been spending some attention looking at my reactions and things and the feelings associated with them and it seems that although I was completely blind to this, my heart, the feeling in the center of my chest, is quite often in pain, in both fear and desire reactions/impulses.

You think this is common?

Yes it is common, in fact it is universal. most people just ignore it. With practice it will decrease. At some point you may feel it open up and disperse, along with the sense of "I". Sense of "I" is painful and is connected with a point of tension in the solar plexus.

BrotherBob

Richard, WOW!! Thank You! that was great! :om:

In Gassho

Simplify

It's funny I've encountered it through some introspection inspired by the Shambalah teachings but had no clue I would feel this so often.

I was going to say something about it being associated with 'I' but wasn't sure it was limited.

There are different kinds of feelings and

blah blah

I always get the urge to talking about something when I first find it but I don't know it well so I'll just look at it till its well known.

Funny this need for comfirmation. What is what is, no ammount of comformation or denile while change that

Dazzle

Hi Simplify,

I recall mentioning a similar painful feeling in my chest to an older and presumably more experienced practitioner at a Tibetan centre years ago. He nodded wisely and said "You're feeling your heart!"

However its always a very good idea to get it checked out with a doctor too.


Kind wishes,

D.

.

fivebells

It's very common, and a sign that practice is progressing well.