THE RADIANCE BENEATH THE PAIN
Our culture, society, and upbringing have conditioned us to do everything in our power to avoid the pain that resides in our hearts and souls. From intoxicants to sedatives, from endless scrolling to binge-watching, we reach for distractions that shield us from facing the wound within. These avoidance strategies, whether extreme or subtle, act as Band-Aids at best. Yet, when they fail—and they inevitably do—the wound is exposed. This moment, though uncomfortable, is a blessing in disguise. It marks the beginning of a conscious search for wholeness.
Unlike past generations, we now have an array of psychological tools, therapies, and healing modalities at our disposal. While these can be valuable in addressing our inner wounds, they come with a trap: the underlying impulse to “fix” ourselves often stems from a deep aversion to pain. This is no surprise, as the instinct to avoid suffering is hardwired into our survival mechanisms. We chase perfection, empowerment, and abundance, believing that these will shield us from life's challenges. Yet this pursuit of control only deepens our sense of separation and keeps us entangled in the cycle of avoidance.
Even the spiritual path is not immune to this tendency. For some, spirituality becomes the ultimate escape—a way to bypass unresolved emotional wounds by clinging to the promise of transcendence. The belief that awakening or enlightenment will erase all suffering is a tempting illusion, but it remains just that: an illusion. Without honest examination, this fantasy becomes another strategy of the ego to avoid discomfort.
The truth is far more profound and paradoxical. Awakening does not promise a pain-free existence. Instead, it invites you to meet pain fully, to rest in the brokenness of your personal story without resistance. In surrendering the futile search for perfection or escape, you uncover something unbroken within you—a radiance that is untouched by suffering.
When pain and suffering are held in the open embrace of unconditional acceptance, they lose their grip. In that space, you are offered the profound opportunity to see through the illusion of separation and remember your true nature. This is the ultimate healing, the end of the story of wounding, and the revelation of wholeness that has always been here.
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I think you said this very well. But is there a further falseness to our reality? Is the manifest even real? I mean our very life, the world, our body?
Thank you for your teaching.