What does Pain teach us?

First off, we can all agree that no one likes pain. Some of us may identify with our pain but ultimately suffering is universal, not something that we strive for. We are biologically created to gravitate towards comfort. Yet, the human experience is riddled with pain and suffering. What is that? Are we supposed to suffer? What does pain teach us about life?

Well, for one, it can teach us to be grateful for those times when we are not experiencing pain. Is that all it teaches us? To be grateful? In my experience pain can be the catalyst for behavioral change. For example if you touch something hot out of curiosity you will likely change your behavior and not touch that thing again because of the pain you experience. Right? Well, many of us continue to do things that harm us and cause pain. So why is that? Maybe sometimes it takes many painful experiences before we learn the lesson. Maybe we actually enjoy the pain in some way and so therefore continue the behavior that causes pain for us. If that is the case, then what is the root of that desire to be in pain? This is a question that I have been asking myself lately. Here is what I have come to understand so far….

For myself, I feel that I have been programmed at a young age to expect pain. The first time I experienced pain was when I was born. I have given birth before and understand the process, the baby must experience extreme pain in order to come into the world. So that is our initiation into life. Pain. I believe that this initial first experience as a human ends up literally programming us to expect painful experiences from life. But, is that really what we want? I certainly do not want to continue to experience pain in order to really enjoy life, but maybe that is part of life? I remember listening to Ram Dass teachings towards the end of his life and he frequently would state “suffering is Grace”. That really woke me up to a different concept around pain and suffering. How can suffering be good for me?

These are all questions that I continue to sit with daily. I have a lot of curiosity as to whether or not we actually need to continue to suffer in order to fully experience and appreciate life in all of it’s facets. My heart wants to be free from pain and suffering, that is my daily prayer. The most challenging part of parenting for me has been the experience of witnessing my children and grandchildren experience pain. For myself, when I see them suffering it hurts me deeply because I wish to save them from their pain. Ultimately I realize that pain can assist us at this time of the Great Awakening. This is because the pain we experience can liberate us from our unconscious behaviors. It can swiftly move us in a different direction and radically change our behavior towards those that ultimately benefit our desire for comfort.

To summarize here, I still have much to ponder about pain and its benefits for us. I do hold the hope for humanity to evolve in such a way as to continue to learn and grow without the need for pain. I have been extremely grateful for my life on a daily basis because of pain and the awareness of pain and suffering in the world. So many humans are deeply identified with their pain. I wish to understand more about how we can transcend pain and be free from suffering. I do know that Raw Living foods can teach us how to embrace peace. This can happen through the pure enjoyment of these sources of nourishment and the vibration of peace that they carry. When we choose to consume these foods and incorporate the wisdom that they carry, we can learn in an enjoyable way without pain and suffering.