Healing From Within

"We become sick because we act
In sickening ways."
Louis Jourard

Modern medicine is based upon the notion of battle. We battle germs and fight for life. As soon as we feel pain or discomfort, we immediately try to change it. We feel we must conquer

This way of being leads to a never-ending struggle. After one illness or problem is conquered, another arises. Usually we expect the doctor to take control and make us well. We relinquish our part in the illness, deny the fact that it is up to us to stop, listen, and discover the lessons the illness has to teach us.

Healing from within brings inner peace with it. It arises from a different orientation towards all the experiences of life. We are taught to stop, pay attention, to respect what is happening ? to see our pain as a messenger. It is as if we were re-focusing a camera, receiving our experience through a different lens.

Pointer 1 See Your Pain As A Messenger Bringing Important News

Dialoguing With Your Pain

Usually there is a deep sense that when pain arises it is because something is wrong. This is a misunderstanding. Pain arises from lack of balance. It contains much needed information, brings many messages along with it. When we see our pain as a messenger and learn how to really listen to it, healing begins in all kinds of ways.

Some would suggest there is no difference between our physical pain, our illness and the emotional, mental or spiritual suffering we are going through.

Illness often comes when we feel defeated and may not want to struggle or live anymore. Some become ill when they are overly exhausted, which is a way of telling themselves it is time to make changes in their lives. Looking at one aspect of our suffering, we are also inevitably, looking at the next. All aspects are interconnected.

In some cases, for full healing to take place, a person may have to make deep changes in his life. It is important to stop and wonder specifically what the pain is saying to you, to dialogue with the pain, ask fundamental questions of it: "What do you want from me? Why are you here now?"

No matter what we are feeling there is only one pain and it manifests itself in various ways. If we do not address it in one mode, often it will come in another. It can come physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

In whatever form this pain arises, it is extremely empowering to turn directly to our suffering and interact with it. This requires turning around. Instead of tensing up, we learn how to pause and understand there is a lesson here we have to learn. As we do this, we often discover that the pain comes holding a gift in its hands.

Pointer 2 Pain Often Comes Holding A Gift In Its Hands

Each Illness Has Its Own Story

Illness often comes when we feel defeated. We may not wish to struggle anymore. Some people become ill when they are overly exhausted. The illness is the only way they can give themselves permission to stop, rest, and make much needed changes in their lives. Each illness has it's own story. The same is true with psychological or emotional symptoms that grow strong, demanding our attention.

When someone is in physical pain and suddenly understands what is troubling them emotionally, the physical pain often startlingly subsides. For full healing to take place it may be essential to make changes in one's total life. Cancer can be suppressed for many years, and then it returns. When it reappears we must ask, "Why now? What is going on in my total life?"

Sitting In The Middle Of Trouble

During the practice of Zen, students engaged in zazen (Zen meditation), sometimes sit for many hours on the cushion without moving. Sometimes incredible pain arises.

As they continue to do this practice, they gradually become stronger than the pain. They learn to see that most of the pain simply comes from resistance to what's going on. It comes from refusing this very moment.

When we stop fighting, we experience joy. Once we start fighting again, we are cramped into agony.

Pointer 3

The Best Way Out Is The Way In

The Best Way Out

"The best way out is the way in."

Eido Roshi

The best way out is to make friends with the pain. Fighting intensifies it. If we can relax into it for a little while and explore, many new possibilities arise.

Natural healing is always available in all situations, but it can be cut off by fighting and by fear. When we let go and enter the flow of what's going on at the moment, we became available to our greater source of energy, guidance and help.

Brenda Shoshanna, Ph.D, is a psychologist, speaker and well known author who is a long term Zen practitioner. This article is from her new book Living By Zen, (Timeless Truths For Everyday Life) http://www.livingbyzen.com The relationship expert on i.village, she is also the author of of Zen Miracles (Finding Peace In An Insane World,) Zen And The Art Of Falling In Love, (Simon and Schuster) and many other books. You may contact her at topspeaker@yahoo.com. Her personal website is.http://www..brendashoshanna.com

---

Wireless Meditation: Top Five Tips For Wherever-Whenever Mindfulness

The problem with meditation is attachment.We get in the habit... Read More

Embrace Fear and Let Go

Before I started meditating several years ago with CDs using... Read More

Meditation: How to Enter a Deep State of Relaxation

There are many methods of meditation that can lead to... Read More

Herbal Teas

If you want to get hold of a particular tea... Read More

What Does Meditation Music Do To You?

Personally I belief that it is possible for anyone to... Read More

Lighthearted Meditation: Playing With Mindfulness

I often meet people who say things like, "I've been... Read More

Meditation Is A Dinner Party

Try Not To Force Things Too MuchOften, when meditating, we... Read More

Stress: Guilty As Charged

How To Defend YourselfDo you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed?... Read More

Why Should You Meditate?

Everyone's mind needs a little downtime. We all need time... Read More

How To Meditate Without Even Trying

I remember when I started trying to meditate. I would... Read More

Establishing A Daily Meditation Practice

It's important to establish a daily practice and then stick... Read More

A Look at Meditation

I've counseled many people from every background and led workshops... Read More

Healing From Within

"We become sick because we act In sickening ways." Louis... Read More

Meditation Supply Items ? Can They Help Deepen Your Practice?

Can a meditation supply item help you go into a... Read More

Full Body Awareness

Now that you're comfortable working with your breath it's time... Read More

Meditation: A Path To Inner Peace

Throughout history, meditation has been an integral part of many... Read More

Can Cognitive Fitness Be a Workout for Your Brain?

There is growing interest to exercise your brain using something... Read More

Cultivate a Positive Mind-Set Through Meditation

You have the ability to create your own mind-set. Whether... Read More

Meditating - Staying Awake

Why is staying awake while meditating important? Falling asleep is... Read More

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe, With Which Meditation Should I Go?

There are many different styles of meditation, so which one... Read More

Muraqaba- The Sufi Meditation By Sufi-Master Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi

When we try to learn a new skill or try... Read More

Meditation

Hello, sample some of the arguments below. But mind you,... Read More

Meditate with Mindful Breathing

Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.... Read More

How to Use White Noise

White noise is: A sound containing a blend of all... Read More

Mindfulness and Eating: Divine Desk Dining

Are you stuck eating lunch at your desk again?Lucky you.You... Read More