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Sickly Ailments of Displeasure

MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
edited February 2011 in Buddhism Basics
What does Buddhism say about physical pain and/or sicknesses and how to deal with them? I don't see how being mindful and such can take away the pain of actual pain.

I'm sick today. Stayed home from school and stuff. Coughing my lungs out. Painful, uncomfortable, etc. :zombie:

Comments

  • CloudCloud Veteran
    If sick, take medicine. :)

    When it can't be corrected, I would turn to meditation practices. Also progress toward seeing reality clearly leads to detachment from pain as being uncomfortable and the like.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    All things are impermanent. That doesn't help much when you feel lousy, but it will pass, I promise! One way or the other, illnesses always end.

    Sort of gallows humor, but as we say in medicine: bleeding *always* stops. (i.e.: it either stops, or you bleed to death, but it always stops!) :)
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    Observe the pain. Accept it, and watch it. It really does help.
  • ravkesravkes Veteran
    edited February 2011
    pain isn't good or bad, it's just what happens. obv. be smart and take care of your body (meds etc.) but if you can't then just let it be, suffering over it isn't going to change anything..

    we do the suffering, phenomena just happens.
    when that's seen, pain is just pain. (just another way for the body to tell the brain that something needs to be fixed) tee hee
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Being sick is the pits, but you can make it not so bad by not focussing on it, not attaching, not ruminating over how miserable you feel, not focussing on the symptoms. Easier said than done, of course. Watch your mind, and when it goes into that habitual mode of feeling sorry for yourself because of how miserable you feel, stop that thought. Distract yourself with something. Read, if you can.Ask your mom to buy you comic books, haha! That's what my mom always did when we were sick. ;) And while she's at it buying comic books, ask her for some cough medicine.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    I'm sick!!!!!!!!!! :(
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    You want some comic books?
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    of naked japanese girls???
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Those Japanese porn comix are kinda sick, y'know Journey. Ever seen one? They put children's faces on women's bodies, it's a pedophilia thing.

    Why don't you make your own Buddhist comics? Are you good at art?
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    Art has never been something i've been good at, or tried to work on...:(
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Me either. I'm lucky if I can draw stick figures. My whole family is like that.

    OK, we've officially hijacked MG's thread. I hope he gets a laugh out of our digression, at least.

    How're you doing, MindGate?
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    MindGate, there is the teaching of the twin arrows:

    The first, is sensation-suffering because of the physical aspect, the pain, the ache, the blocked nose...all these sensations are the first arrow of physical discomfort and displeasure...

    The second arrow is the mental or psychological discomfort YOU yourself generate, by recoiling and disliking what is happening to you, and complaining, lamenting and regretting what the body is going through. The whole "woe is me I'm feeling sick today!" bit.

    Look after the first, don't do the second.
    Simple.

    By facing what is happening right now, and accepting that this is part of the physical process of owning a body, and looking at it as just something to get through (which of course, you will) you ease your mind and relax.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    In regards to CP and TJ:
    :wtf: Japanese porno comics? With child faces? Oookay then.

    And CP, how would one go about making "Buddhist" comics?

    ---

    In regards to Federica:
    Its hard just to put a smile on when snot pours out of your nose when you smile.
  • ravkesravkes Veteran
    No it isn't, you just think it's hard because you've labeled sickness and pain as bad for all your life. Not your fault though, we're conditioned to suffer.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    In regards to CP and TJ:
    :wtf: Japanese porno comics? With child faces? Oookay then.
    yes, it's called going off topic.....

    In regards to Federica:
    Its hard just to put a smile on when snot pours out of your nose when you smile.
    No, actually, it isn't, you're just telling yourself it is.
    you think I've never had a cold, or indeed any ailment that could be seen to generate negativity?
    It's really all down to you, MG, honest.

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