The Conquering of Suffering...

Suffering of itself teaches us nothing, any more than boarding a ship takes us anywhere.. We must use it correctly, We must endure it long enough to call its bluff... We must not run away to refuge in self-pity or to high-sounding rationalizations...Such retreats only increase the illusion that suffering has us on the run... In spiritual battle we defeat the enemy, not through flight but though standing still long enough to see that we have mistakenly attributed power to the enemy.. Suffering has no power over anyone.. Just perceive this... Perceive it and you win every time, whether the assault comes as loneliness, frustration, despair, whatever...As a practical illustration, suppose our distress is caused by a cruel remark from someone, Now, the distress arises because the remark fell on the false self, whose very nature is touchy, sensitive, indignant..But as this artificial self fades away through psychological insight, what entity is left to suffer ? If a thousand people throw black paint against the air, it remains clear and undisturbed.....