suffering with the Christians and the Buddha

Several people I know were brought up in Protestant households.  They had occasion to conclude that Christ suffered and that good Christians do, too.  They do not report being actually told explicitly that suffering is to be sought after, but they quietly imbibed the idea that it is rather noble.  Maybe, suffering is to be sought.  Pretty clearly, those who have suffered much are to be respected for what they have undergone.

One friend was told by an elder that "life is suffering" and it does seem that life inevitably includes such experience.  That is the same thing that the Buddha started with: Life is suffering.  But unlike the strategy of facing it or even relishing it, the Awakened One sought both to avoid or lessen suffering and also to find a teachable message that would enable others to do the same.  Somewhat as Mother Theresa advised, the Buddha and those who pondered his puzzles found that there is much pain and many unwanted course changes in life but it does lower the irritation level if one can accept what life gives, especially in areas where we are not able to make a change.  Craving something different than what actually is often at the root of suffering.  Accepting what is, is often surprisingly effective at lowering the pain level, the frustration level, the dissatisfaction level.

Dr. Epstein found that many of his patients tried, consciously or unknowingly, to foresee pain or disappointment coming and tried to steel themselves against it.  If sufficiently vigilant or determined, they may increase the steeling, the tensing and even the forgetting to the point where they not only feel very little disappointment but also feel very little joy. 

Many of the American Buddhist teachers, therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists say that having the ability and the courage to sit alone and still and see how one feels is a much better way.  Even very great fear, rage or shame can often be faced calmly and quietly, to the point where they lose their power, diminish and vaporize.  It seems we can learn to taste life, all of it.