PAIN IS INEVITABLE BUT SUFFERING IS A CHOICE !

Gautama Buddha summed up the inescapability of pain in one’s life in the timeless pali adage ‘Sabbam Dukkham’ - ‘everything is pain’. This found parallels in its contemporary shramana philosophy of Jainism - which talks of innumerable ‘ Karma’ particles attaching themselves to one’s soul continuously inhibiting one from reaching true happiness or ‘kevaljnana’.

Indian and western philosophy with theories of ‘karma’ and ‘existentialism’ seem to agree on the relentless pain of human life - which manifests itself in different ways - from physical pain of hurting one’s foot to the psychological one of social humiliation and the even deeper of the loss of a loved one or a broken heart.

Pain thus seems to be continuous - while happiness is momentary the flicker of a flame. Napoleon’s occupation of Czechoslovakia is soon to be followed by a greater desire for more - Poland, Russia, and then the whole of Europe. Happiness seems to be an interlude - our natural state going back to a state of pain.

If we are to live thus and engage in any ‘karma’ there is always the possibility of failure and consequently pain. The quest for avoiding it is similar to swimming in the ocean trying to avoid getting wet.

Pain is thus a fact. However, suffering is our reaction towards it. It is what we do with the raw material of the events of our life that defines our attitude. A piece of clay can rot in the mud or the potter can make a beautiful pot out of it. All marine creatures are laden with dust - but it is the oyster that creates a pearl out of it.

Our mythological stories are replete with examples of how the test of one’s character is precisely how one deals with adversity. Raja Harishchandra lost all his possessions including his wife and son, but stuck to his idea of ‘dharma’ and ‘integrity’, rather than pitying his fate.

An acceptance of the inevitability of pain without a desire to change it and a ‘take it as it comes’ attitude is key to the choice of saying no to suffering. Eklavya happily gave up his thumb to Dronacharya and continued practicing archery. While Karna gave his Kavach and Kundal to Indra - both without malice or ill will. This absence of hatred for your perpetrators lands one a sense of peace allenating one’s sense of pain.

Along with the acceptance of the inevitability of failure and pain, one must also accept the inevitability and importance of persistence. Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s famous poem ‘ Nanhi Cheenti' talks of the innumerable times an ant tries to climb a wall but falls - until after multiple attempts - she finally reaches.

It is this idea of ‘nishkama karma’ or acting without desire for results that led Abraham Lincoln to become the President despite losing more than eight elections. It is said that a river suits through rock not because of its speed but its persistence. The U.S. basketball player ‘Magic Johnson’ is reported to have said in life winning and losing will both happen. What is not acceptable is quitting!

It is probably this advice which was taken well by our cricketers in the Gabba test in 2020 - probably our greatest test match victory in ages. Bundled out for paltry 36 in the first match, the Indian team instead of wallowing in suffering came back with a vengeance and won the match, with greater vigor. Pain, in this case, led to an even greater victory, possibly greater happiness.

How one looks at the pain that comes knocking at one’s door is thus a matter of choice. The Jain theory of ‘anekantavada’ lends further credence to this idea. A glass half full of water can be interpreted as a pessimist as half empty. Our outlook towards life should be optimistic - as a doorway to greater opportunities and possibilities.

An illustration of recognizing opportunity in despair is that of IAS officer Tamboli Ayyaj who instead of being demotivated on being posted in a Maoist area in Telangana helped establish a hospital for the Adivasi inhabitants who had to travel more than 160 km for basic healthcare. Similarly, Dashrath Manjhi, overtaken by the grief of his wife who could not reach a hospital on time hollowed out a rock single-handedly to make a road to the city.

The waste on our streets can be an eyesore and cause waterborne diseases - while on the other hand, with the right effort be converted to energy using ‘Waste to Energy’ technologies like hydrothermal carbonization.

In the realm of policy, the painful reality of unsustainable population rise can either be a cause of suffering due to policy idleness or be converted into a ‘demographic dividend’ and opportunity with adequate investment as in the case of the ‘ East Asian Miracle’.

Contrary to optimism which breeds positivity and newer opportunities pessimism and acceptance of suffering close us to the opportunities that may be ready for our taking. Not only does it make us sad and affects our mental peace, but affects our physical health with issues of hypertension and heart ailments, along with negatively affecting our loved ones.

But is our ability to suffer pain or be sad universally condemnable? More importantly, how must one navigate the pain in our lives and why then do people ‘choose’ to suffer if the choice is open to them?

Firstly, we must understand that the ability to suffer is also an intrinsic part of being human that must be respected. A sports injury by an athlete cannot be simply wished away by ‘persistence’ of practicing in the field. An adequate amount of rest and acknowledgment and acceptance of suffering is a necessary part of the recovery process.

Moreover, a period of suffering can be a valuable life lesson indicating what is truly important in an individual’s life, pushing one to make a course correction. King Ashoka’s mental suffering after the immense bloodshed of the Kalinga war transformed his idea of warfare from ‘ bherighosha’ (conquest through war) to ‘dhammaghosha’ (conquest through dharma).

Suffering too thus can be natural, it is how quickly and surely one can get over it to ultimately achieve the stoic state of ‘stith-pragya’ as mentioned in the “Bhagavad Gita” - treating all events in an equanimous manner.

The stoic thinker Marcus Aurelius said, ‘Masters of the world have been masters of their mind’. This conquering of one’s mind however to avoid the suffering of life is easier said than done.

This resoluteness of spirit and mind must be inculcated every day, learning from the role models that our literature, sports, and leaders have provided us. Looking at P.V.Sindhu coming back to the badminton court after a bad day of play or leaving the desire or ‘trishna’ of incessant achievements in our lives, according to Buddha can be the key in tackling the ‘dukkham’ that surrounds us every day.