United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

10 page summary of meditation guru Shinzen Young's book "Break Through Pain". Very helpful for those that are curious.

http://shinzen.org/Articles/artPain.pdf

What is Mindfulness 20 page
http://shinzen.org/Articles/WhatIsMindf ... Public.pdf

more reading under "articles"
http://shinzen.org

THANMK YOU, Christopher !
Carolyn J
LOBPI/75+++++

FYI for anyone curious.

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

I've been practicing meditation just over 3 years now. My main purpose was to change my experience of pain, my second purpose was to give this chronic pain an actual purpose. No pain, no gain kind of thinking (or pain = gain).

I figured if any of us could learn to turn this kind of pain into an advantage, since the pain comes in such a consistent frequency and magnitude of force, then we'd be richer than Bill Gates. I call my pain bursts "flurries". To me the pain flurry experience is like to being submerged in some kind of maddening nordic typhon of a snow blizzard. My mind goes blank while being lacerated and ripped apart with these flying shards of burning ice.

Anyway, through meditation I've been learning to "recycle" the pain experience into pure "energy". Instead of experiencing it as a negative reaction (which we're biologically hardwired to do), I observe it with out judgement, or desire for it to go or stay. Just pure nonjudgemental observation. Openly and calmly but with intense focus.

It's a pretty empowering experience. The pain transformed into a direct surge of energy flow.

Think about it... because complaining and suffering suck.

suffering = pain x resistance

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Christopher