Pain: A Silhouette Free-Solo Attempt

[@O.G.Rose.Michelle.and.Daniel]

What a wonderful reflection, and I liked the Arendt quote very much on how pain moves us inward, while pleasure can push us outward. She's certainly a favorite of mine. And I'm glad to hear you'll be doing a series with D. C. Schindler! Looking forward to that, very much so.

[@williamjmccartan8879]

Just at the beginning and I can see the struggle you find yourself in, hi Ken, I'll comment as I go along. 4 minutes in and I agree with the description put forward by Hannah Arendt, it can pull you from anything else you might be focused on, even those closest to you are still outside the pain. I think that trying to share your pain is narcissistic as you try and envelop another with your pain. After 60 years of life I am starting to believe that pain is cumulative, and can damage the system so much so that it can no longer function as a healthy contributing entity. As for the responsibility being thrust on the medical profession, I know your not saying, "look at what I can do", but in fact it seems like this is what we are charged with doing, even though the tools at your disposal are not enough to meet the challenge, your still asked to step up and figure it out, which is unfair to the professional you, and the individuals your trying to help. Cruelty, seems to grow over time, especially if left unchecked, by the norms a society responsible for raising good members of that society. Really deep Ken, you can't run away from pain, realizing the reality of that, you might be able to help someone overcome their physical pain momentarily to see the pain from a different perspective. You're now into episode 3 I think. Have a great night and all the best to your family.

[@climbingmt.sophia]

Thank you for your reflections, William!

[@williamjmccartan8879]

@@climbingmt.sophia Billy is fine, thank you Ken

[@patrickwilkerson6303]

Spicy food, cold showers, and a weight lifter’s “pump” are common examples of pain yielding a kind of joy. I like Shinzen Young’s equations: suffering = pain x resistance (which you touched upon) and purification = pleasure x equanimity.

[@dalibofurnell]

This could actually turn into a potentially transformative conversation. I almost want to explore this in conversation with another. The hard part is finding someone willing to talk about it.

[@jeremy472]

Consistent pain feels like cruelty...at least I experience it as such