I recently read a passage from a book by the Franciscan priest and author Richard Rohr which resonated deeply. He writes in Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi: The ordinary dualistic mind is consumed by counting and measuring how moral I am or you are. It weighs everything up and down–mostly…
Have you ever had the experience of being irritated with someone or about something, like a parking ticket, while waking somewhere when suddenly you notice a gorgeous sunset is also happening? How long did it take you to let go of the “irritation voices” in your head to take in the sunset? Or maybe you…
Redemptive suffering is the idea that suffering can lead to growth. It can bring about a positive transformation. Theology sees suffering as a path to atonement. Philosophy views it as an opportunity for self-discovery. Psychology suggests it can build resilience. For Buddhism, this is the foundational insight. Suffering takes many forms. Physical pain is one…