After all, what is suffering? And why do we need to get rid of it? Let’s start with the first question: what is suffering? We don't know what suffering is. We know the effect of suffering, not the reason why. So, there are some things to clarify with you.
We want to get rid of suffering because it’s painful, uncomfortable, it hurts, and doesn't seem natural to us at all. So far, it’s perfect, there’s really nothing natural about suffering and there’s nothing comfortable about suffering, but trying to get rid of something without comprehending it, will it work? This is where this misconception lies within each one of us. What is this idea? It’s the idea that we have to get rid of suffering. No, we don't have to get rid of suffering, we have to remain in what we are, that’s the true way to approach the end of suffering.
So, it’s not about getting rid of suffering. It’s about comprehending the Truth of who we are. Notice that it’s something a little different here, we're putting it differently. The comprehension of what we are is the comprehension of suffering, of why we suffer. What is this why? What is this reason? What is this cause of suffering? Intellectually understanding the cause of suffering will not get rid of this effect that is suffering. It’s not understanding this intellectually, but rather understanding where suffering is structured in us – and here, of course, I refer to this psychological suffering, which is the harshest suffering present in all of us.
Fears, the various fears, are forms of suffering. Anger is present in human beings because they are in pain. Have you ever noticed that it’s when you are suffering that you are angry? This emotion of anger is closely linked to some internal suffering in us. To understand is not to understand the cause; to comprehend is to see what it represents, and when you see what it represents – not intellectually, but when you see it – it disappears.
We want to work with you here, in the next few minutes, on the Truth for ending psychological suffering. We want to get rid of suffering, and we want to get rid of it by getting rid of what makes us suffer. For us, what makes us suffer is external, outside; it’s always something external being the cause of that suffering. We believe we understand this cause and we want to eliminate this cause to get rid of suffering; and here I’m telling something else to you. I’m asking you: is it possible for us to have a comprehension of what suffering is?
The comprehension of what suffering is shows us that it’s rooted in the sense of a present identity that resists that instant, that moment. At that instant, at that moment, there’s a resistance to what that instant, that moment presents as a challenge for that “me,” that “I,” that ego, that “person” I assume, at that instant, to be real in this experience.
However, here we are touching on the issue of comprehending suffering. The comprehension of suffering is the end of suffering; it’s not the liberation from suffering, not “someone” getting rid of something, but rather the end for that “someone”: that’s the comprehension for the end of suffering. I want to emphasize this a little bit more to you. Notice how fascinating it is to investigate this in a real way. So, we have liberation from suffering and when you free yourself from one suffering, another appears. Life is imperative in showing us challenges, we are continually facing challenges, and while we don’t comprehend this issue of suffering, these challenges will be showing themselves and one suffering will replace another one. That’s why we spend our whole lives fighting against suffering and never really get rid of it, because to get rid of suffering you have to comprehend what suffering is.
The comprehension of what suffering is shows you that the sense of a present “I” is what truly sustains suffering. So, the intellectual understanding, the verbal understanding of why we suffer or what causes us suffering – the intellectual understanding, the verbal understanding – doesn’t work, doesn’t put an end to this continuity of suffering. What puts an end to this is the comprehension of suffering, and the comprehension of suffering is the vision of the “truth” of this “I,” which is that resistance to life. There’s no clarity and there is no silence; if there’s no clarity, if there’s no silence, because the “I” is present interpreting, translating, trying to correct, resisting, fighting against this moment – what this moment represents, what is present at this moment, arriving as a challenge – in this movement of resistance, struggle, comparison, rejection, suffering sustains itself; it’s sustained by the illusion of a present identity, which is the “I,” “me,” the ego.
We need to comprehend this experientially: if someone offends you, he is using verbal expressions and hitting you. These words harm, hurt, offend, sadden, annoy, and make you angry, then you are suffering. The cause of the apparent suffering is the offense of the other, but the truth of the comprehension of suffering, that is, intellectually, you can have an understanding that the other is the cause; but when there’s the comprehension that, in fact, suffering is present because this “I” is present, resisting that moment, that experience – which, in this case, is a criticism, a negative comparison, an abusive word, a curse –, when there’s the comprehension that it’s the sense of the “I” present resisting that experience – trying to defend or attack, or counterattack –, when this is seen, this is the comprehension that this “I,” this “me,” this ego, here, is the reason for suffering. The true reason for suffering is the “I.” It’s not the other that makes me suffer. It’s not life that makes me suffer, not the circumstances or situations that produce suffering in me. This “me,” yes, when it judges, compares, rejects, fights against, defends itself, interprets experience, this “me” is suffering itself.
So, there’s no “I” and suffering, there’s only suffering, and suffering is the presence of the “I.” Alright? That “I” is suffering, without that “I” there’s no suffering. Thus, notice, there’s not the “I” and the suffering. The “I” is the presence of suffering itself. It’s not two phenomena – the suffering and the “I” –, the “I” is the suffering. This has nothing to do with what is here, at this moment, at this instant, presenting itself as a challenge. This is something completely different from getting rid of suffering. Our inclination to get rid of suffering leads us to run away from suffering, and we run away from suffering when we resist the present moment, this experience. It doesn't matter what it is presenting, it can be painful, difficult, and complicated, but if there’s no resistance, no struggle, if this answer here comes from clarity and silence. Clarity and silence require the absence of the “I,” the “me,” and the ego. Is that clear?
We don't have this way of approaching life. For all these years, for all this life, our whole model is the one of struggle, resistance, self-protection, self-preservation, of sustaining this “I.”
For our whole lives, we have sustained the idea of this “me,” this “I,” this ego, which is always trying to protect, preserve, and defend itself. We’re always trying to sustain this “me” so as not to be hurt or offended, because we don't want that pain, that suffering for this “me.” For this “me,” this “I,” all we want is pleasure, satisfaction, recognition, applause, praise, acceptance of our conclusions, our opinions, our judgments; the ego needs it to strengthen itself, to be “someone,” to sustain its identity.
This sense of “I” is nothing more than a thought, a memory, an image it has of itself; and it’s this image that it doesn’t want others touching. This sense wants others to praise, give applause, give acceptance to this image. So, we always live in that fear, the fear of being hurt, being harmed, of suffering; and we always live in this desire to be appreciated, recognized, praised, accepted, so suffering is sustained in this “me,” this “I,” this ego.
Thus, it’s not a question of getting rid of suffering, but rather comprehending the sense of an “I” present in that experience, and this ends suffering. We are no longer in the game of getting rid of suffering for the next suffering to arrive and take its place.
The ways we have to get rid of suffering are diverse. There are several mechanisms of self-defense, of escaping from these psychological pains, these different forms of psychological pains. Here, I mentioned one, but there are several ways for us to be offended, wounded, suffered “people”, suffering and victimized basically by whom? By ourselves, by our sense of “I,” of ego, of separateness, of the illusion of a present identity. All of this comes from psychological conditioning, something we've been cultivating, conserving, and preserving in ourselves since childhood.
We can put an end to all this to live the Truth of God, of our Being, which is Love, Peace, Happiness, and the absence of the “I.” If this is present, the Reality of your Being is Happiness, Peace, and Freedom; this is the absence and the end of this illusion, which is the illusion of suffering. It’s not the liberation from suffering; it’s the end of the illusion of suffering, when there’s an end to the illusion of this “me,” this “I,” this sufferer.
This is our proposal here on our channel; we’re working on it with those who approach us. If this is something that makes sense to you, leave your like, and subscribe to the channel. Reminder: we have online, face-to-face meetings and also retreats, where we work with those who approach. Ok?
If that makes sense to you, see you next meeting!
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