Did the Buddha Feel Pain?

[@sonamtshering194]

Pain is an inherent element of life, so as you long as you live pain will be present

[@kheylemiquekheylemique3247]

Thanks !

[@DougsDharma]

No problem! 😊

[@localnugget]

Doug, this is a great video (as always) but I have a question. In your video on non-attachment, you mentioned how non-attachment is different from indifference because one may still care about and enjoy things while not being attached to them (as they are impermanent). In this video, one of the texts that you quoted regarding the awakened state describes one as not taking pleasure in things because they are fleeting. Is this not somewhat similar to indifference/detachment?

[@DougsDharma]

Great question localnugget, it might take a video to get a real answer for you, these are subtle but profound differences. I’d love to find an early text that described the differences well, if I do I’ll definitely put it in a video. But basically “taking pleasure” is doing so in a way that is emotionally identifying with the experience. That leads to suffering when the experience ends. If we see the experience in a non-attached way we see it without identifying with it. We understand it is pleasurable but also that it is essentially unsatisfactory. We aren’t indifferent towards it because we can also see it as say skillful and so worth doing, as might be our helping someone.

[@localnugget]

Doug's Secular Dharma thank you, that makes more sense

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome!

[@akashbarua9879]

Does an awakened being react to pain in the same way as a normal person. Like a normal person shout and cry when hit by an arrow, will an enlightened being react in this way?

[@DougsDharma]

I don't know, it's an interesting question and might depend on the situation. That is, I'd expect a certain amount of shouting might simply be an ordinary function of the body when we are hurt. It's the lamentation and sorrow that the Buddha says he overcame.

[@akashbarua9879]

@@DougsDharma thanks

[@SantiagoRK96]

Not sure, but have you seen those videos where buddhists put themselves on fire (I think it was for some protest)? They didn’t seem to be screaming. But I don’t know.

[@stephenrizzo]

I can personally testify to the efficacy of meditation. It has enabled me to deal with the stress that arises from my respiratory problems and a difficult personal issue with a loved one. The problems don’t magically go away, but I can hit the reset button whenever I need to and regain my perspective and sanity and function effectively.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes it can be a very helpful practice in difficult times.

[@studentofspacetime]

Thanks for this video. A question that is related by not directly the main point here: Does early Buddhism equate Nibbana without remainder to total annihilation of the person? Is it described as something to look forward to (since it sounds so bleak)?

[@DougsDharma]

Well we have to be careful with how we understand nibbāna or parinibbāna in early Buddhism. It is not the "annihilation of the person". That is what the Buddha termed "annihilationism" and rejected. Indeed the Buddha pointedly refused to answer the question as to what happened to the awakened person after parinibbāna. But whatever it is, it is something to look forward to as the final extinction of dukkha, even physical dukkha.

[@studentofspacetime]

Doug's Secular Dharma Thanks for the answer. The final extinction of dukkha sounds appealing, but you could fear the final extinction of joy. I guess it remains something we’re not meant to understand conceptually then.

[@DougsDharma]

Well maybe not Andrés. In the Buddhist understanding of happiness, joy is not as good as equanimity. Nibbana is the ultimate “sukham” or “happiness/joy/wellbeing” because in Sāriputta’s words, “nothing is felt”. I discussed some of this, which is indeed somewhat surprising, in a recent video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gojEc4yKm5udrJI

[@studentofspacetime]

Doug's Secular Dharma OK, I’ll check out that video. If I may follow up on something, though. I understand that the Buddha rejected annihilationism, when it comes to ordinary (unawakened) beings. My question here is, would nibbana amount to some sort of true annihilation (as understood in early Buddhism)? I remember reading some passage where the Buddha refers to some disciple passing into paranibbana, and that he could « no longer be detected in the cosmos » (I’m sorry, I can’t remember the reference, nor the name of the arahat in question).

[@DougsDharma]

The Buddha declined to answer what happened to an awakened person after death. So from his point of view annihilation was false. What he said is that awakened beings were no longer discoverable by Māra.

[@ManuDivya202]

He felt pain..He was having same body like every human being has..Please see what he says till we are alive on this earth suffering and body pain will follow us..his method is how we can come out of this suffering and how he avoid rebirth.Get Nirvana and avoid this pain.

[@DougsDharma]

That's right ajay, he felt pain.

[@ashineindaga5229]

Hello dear Brother let me know belong of your Country. Can we study from you please? Please reply something for my Answer.

[@czitek1]

What are the caints of practices in buddhism? Witch are the oldest one ?

[@DougsDharma]

The practices in Buddhism can be found in the Eightfold Path, which I have a playlist about that you can see here: kzbin.info/aero/PL0akoU_OszRjnpcsAhKPho5jAnjIPUvlH It’s hard to say what the oldest practices are, since some of them almost certainly predate the Buddha. (Ethical practices, calming meditation among others).

[@czitek1]

@@DougsDharma thx for answer :)

[@FRED-gx2qk]

text is good dont apologise

[@DougsDharma]

Ah you mean my saying there was a lot of text? Yes, I agree it's good. I hope folks don't find it off-putting or boring though. 🙂

[@zerothehero123]

Perception is everything. It's not about the sensation per se, but the corresponding feedback loop. Combat athletes willingly undergo pain for a certain reward. How your mind frames the pain, or whatever sensation, is what will lead to your nervous system judging the situation as "suffering" or "harm". Training the mind through meditation makes controlling the mind easier. I believe some people lucked out on their genetic profile and of themselves have a happy go lucky "detached" attitude by default. Meditation is the great equalizer.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes that’s right zero, perception and conceptual reframing can make a huge difference in how we absorb sensations. In a sense that’s the whole point of Buddhist practice: to reframe our perceptual apparatus.

[@k.k.2749]

Hi Doug. How does chronic pain match with the Buddha's understanding that everything is impermanent? I mean the buddhist text your are quoting is directly saying "if they feel a painful feeling, they understand that it's impermanent". How should we understand impermanence and chronic pain? If everything is impermanent, then chronic pain should also somehow change. Does the chronic pain maybe change in intensity due to impermanence so it becomes less painful?

[@DougsDharma]

This is something that is discussed a lot nowadays in the context of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) which was designed to deal with chronic pain. If you sit and observe the pain you can see it subtly changing over time. It isn't static. Over time one learns more to accept the pain as the "first arrow" and let go of the suffering or "second arrow". I discussed the parable of the two arrows awhile back here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGSwqGWnfsqIpJY

[@scottkraft1062]

He felt pain

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, based on the texts I think so.

[@FRED-gx2qk]

This was well presented

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Alfred, glad you found it useful. 🙏

[@scottkraft1062]

It happens with a big Flash of light and your brain goes into a reboot and everything is different

[@DougsDharma]

Ha! Well I'm not sure it happens precisely that way ... 🤔

[@scottkraft1062]

@@DougsDharma I went through complete Enlightenment with no residual lost all desire focused nothing but helping people I had all written down as it came out

[@champikaliyanaarachchi3380]

Its usually like waking up after a dream and thinking..i was dreaming all this time...Budh means to awaken

[@scottkraft1062]

@champikaliyanaarachchi3380 I explain enlightenment on my channel I speak from experience God bless