Expert: Alex Wilding - 8/20/2009

Question
HI, I know different schools of Buddhism have different thoughts.  I am in constant phsycial pain and have found the 4 noble truth useful. I've also read about Patient Endurance but I don't know what that means.  Anything you say will be helpful.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Marc,
Sorry to be so slow with my reply - I don't think I got the message about your question.
Patient endurance is a wonderful goal, though it has some technical aspects to do with patiently accepting the way things are. The problem is, though, that it does not represent a special trick for coping with pain of your sort. It just says "put up with it, it's part of the hazards of life". Now that may be good advice, but I doubt if it's very helpful.
We do know, I think, that trying to inwardly turn away from pain makes it worse, and if you can develop some of that very calm focus that goes with meditation you may be able to turn your attention to your pain and in that way soften it to some extent - but I know that's not easy. If there is a "trick", I'm afraid I don't know it, although I would love to!
This probably wasn't much help, but I do hope you find a way to live with it, so when I sign of with:
Best wishes,
Alex W
... I do really mean it!