There are those who are brave. Instead of being worried about the pains of suffering in one’s life, they use that very pain, that suffering.
by Khenpo Tashi
Suffering, if you have Samsaric beings like us, what is the same for all? – Suffering. If you say that you should have no suffering, that is wishful thinking. Because the most basic quality of Samsara and all its beings like us is ‘suffering’.
Different Ways to Deal with Suffering
In the beginning, how do we deal with suffering? By knowing its nature, its causes. By investigating. We must have a personal, first-hand knowing how it comes about.
That is why we investigate Buddha’s teachings in a very, very detailed manner, and check if our own sufferings really are according to the Buddha’s teachings on suffering.
Then, slowly, as we begin to understand the complex Karma, we slowly want to reduce our sufferings.
The Excellent Path
But, there are those who are brave. Instead of being worried about the pains of suffering in one’s life, they use that very pain, that suffering. In a very brave way.
This person wants to use all ways possible to advance his level of ability, so even suffering he uses to improve. The best Buddhist practice for such a person is when one challenges one’s ability with greater and greater obstacles. To test how strong one’s ability has become.
So, this practice (found below) is like that. One must need an experienced Buddhist teacher at this point.
So, we will use the very excellent teaching of Dodrupchen Rinpoche (1865 -1926) on how to turn present suffering into one’s Buddhist practice.
Please contemplate this again and again.
- Using suffering to train in renunciation
Here, ‘mind of renunciation’ is so vital in benefiting from Buddhism. Mind of renunciation is the wish to be liberated, to attain Buddha’s state.
So, the greater the suffering one faces, one will think, “In the whole realms, there is suffering. I cannot escape suffering as long as I am in Samsara.” One develops disgust for Samsara and wishes strongly to be liberated.
2. Using suffering to train in Taking Refuge
As we said, one will not value Buddhism without suffering. Practitioners of the past, who endured so much hardships to practice and study Buddhism, can do those without complaining, because they know suffering very well.
Because they know the pervasiveness of suffering within all realms of Samsara, they know how valuable the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are as solution.
3. Using suffering to overcome arrogance
Everyone has self-cherishing. Therefore, everyone is proud in some ways. Using our own sufferings and misfortunes, this pride of ours can be subdued. Not other people’s pride, our own pride.
Because however rich or famous or talented one will become, one is at the mercy of the winds of misfortunes, failures and uncertainty. So, at all times, there is no reason to be proud.
4. Using suffering to purify negative actions
Because we directly feel the pain of suffering in our own experience, we will have greater urgency and reason to purify our own unripened negative seeds from the past. Think about that repeatedly.
5. Using suffering to rejoice in positive actions
One thinks, “If negative seeds are the cause of negative experiences, then I must strive to do more virtue to experience future positive experiences.” Through that, one becomes very hungry to create seeds of virtue in every moment.
6. Using suffering to train in compassion
For Mahayana practitioners, who aspire the Bodhisattva’s path, compassion for all sentient beings is essential. Using one’s suffering, one can think, “All mother sentient beings are suffering just like this.” One trains in limitless compassion.
This is the quickest way to develop Bodhicitta (Skt: Mind of Enlightenment). Bodhicitta is the seed of all the Buddhas.
7. Using suffering to cherish others more than oneself
The very opposite of Bodhicitta is self-cherishing. If one has zero self-cherishing, no negative emotional affliction can arise within one’s mindstream. No way, no way! So, using suffering, we subdue and eliminate this stubborn self-cherishing of ours, by treating others more importantly than oneself.
Final Words
As we said, this is how all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas practice, the past, the present and future Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
So, these are the seven ways. It is ok if one cannot practice these instantly. One will need a trustworthy and qualified teacher before one can really practice this.
Don’t worry if you cannot practice this now. Just be more familiar with such profound practices in Buddhism.
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For the complete teaching of Dodrupchen Rinpoche entitled “Transforming Happiness and Suffering”, click here.
Thanks to Lotsawa House for making the Tibetan and English versions available.