At our Buddhist group (part of our Unitarian Universalist church) last night we discussed suffering. This was the Buddha's first Noble Truth, that incontrovertible fact of existence that gets our attention. It's actually good news. Just as pain causes us to let go of that hot pan we were going to pick up (I've done this!), suffering is an indication that something we are doing could be done differently. Because the second Truth is that there are actions that lead to suffering, the third Truth is that we don't have to go there, and the final Truth is, of course, the path that alleviates and gets us out of suffering. To be aware of suffering is to have the possibility of finding another way to live.
I know it doesn't feel like good news when your life is in chaos, and it may not be comforting to know this is really a creative place. But the hope is there, the promise of better. How do we know this? The Buddha also said not to take his word for anything. He offered practices to try. Over the years, many people have tried his practices and attested to their value as guides in learning new and better ways of being.
We have several people in our group who have never meditated and know little about Buddhism. But they are willing to try new approaches. This is already something new. A huge aspect of suffering is doing the same thing over and over, despite the fact that it's not working. But it's so easy to get stuck there.
The next thing is to find a supportive group, and this they have done as well. The three jewels of Buddhism are the Buddha (our capacity to learn), the Dharma (teachings - and not limited to texts and stories, but including relationships with ourselves, with all of nature and with each other), and the Sangha (the community of others on the path which provides support).
Openness to learning, a world of teachings, and supportive relationships - I can't think of better tools (whatever the tradition) for furthering an integrated life. (And it can all start from suffering!)
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