To suffer

[pjthompson]

Random quote of the day: 

“Pain is the most individualizing thing on earth. It is true that it is the great common bond as well but that realization only comes when it is over. To suffer is to be alone; to watch another suffer is to know the barrier that shuts each of us away by himself. Only individuals can suffer and only individuals have a place in tragedy.”

—Edith Hamilton, The Greek Way

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Comments

[rudi12.livejournal.com]

Sri Aurobindo said:

Pain is the touch of our Mother teaching us how to bear and grow in rapture. She has three stages of her schooling, endurance first, next equality of soul, last ecstasy.

All disease is a means towards some new joy of health, all evil and pain a tuning of Nature for some more intense bliss and good, all death an opening on widest immortality. Why and how this should be so, is God's secret which only the soul purified of egoism can penetrate.

There are four stages in the pain God gives to us; when it is only pain; when it is pain that causes pleasure; when it is pain that is pleasure; and when it is purely a fiercer form of delight.

Yet, O soul of man, seek not after pain, for that is not His will, seek after His joy only; as for suffering, it will come to thee surely in His providence as often and as much as is needed for thee. Then bear it that thou mayst find out at last its heart of rapture.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Yes.

it will come to thee surely in His providence as often and as much as is needed for thee.

And this especially. If we try to avoid all things that will give us pain, we lead a shallow life. Plus, I don't think it's possible. The Universe will keep handing us lessons until we pay attention. And sometimes long after if we aren't listening with intent.

But the human tendency, our instincts, I think, for most of us anyway, is to run from it as fast as we can. It's very difficult to turn and face the tiger.

[rudi12.livejournal.com]

Indeed, it's very difficult.