Seeds of Freedom Newsletter Archive
Transform Your Suffering into Joy
After losing my home and life’s possessions in the devastation of the CZU Lightning Complex fire, I have renewed appreciation for the internal practices I’ve learned from my teachers over the years. My resilience in these challenging times is largely due to applying these practices. I cringe to think of what these last 5 months would have been like without these priceless gifts.
Today, I’d love to share with you one of my favorite practices for working with hardship, obstacles and suffering. In these tumultuous times in the world you may feel unsettled, stressed out or anxious. This teaching can help you to navigate these times.
This practice comes from a beloved Tibetan Buddhist teacher named Lama Zopa. In the midst of life’s suffering this man absolutely radiates joy. His teaching goes like this:
What is the natural human response to hardship and suffering?
And the answer, of course…is joy
Wait, what?!?!
He goes on to explain that humans need hardship and suffering to cultivate virtue (compassion integrity, wisdom, inner strength, …). He adds that if you truly want to be free, suffering is needed to foster your liberation. And so, the natural human response to hardships of all sorts is indeed joy!
This is a beautiful teaching in and of itself, but if you really want to reap its vast benefits, I invite you to put it into practice any time you encounter hardships or suffering in your life. Having a rough patch with your partner? Financial woes? House just burned down? World’s gone crazy? Perfect time to practice! When you’re in the thick of your suffering, remind yourself of the fundamental truth of this teaching and the magic of the practice will reveal itself to you. Look for the opportunities for growth that arise in challenging situations. What lessons and hidden gems can you find by bringing acceptance and curiosity to your suffering? You may find that in the midst of your frustration and difficulty you feel the hint of a smile forming on your lips or things just feel a little less serious. When this happens, the practice has come alive for you.
The more you apply this practice the more you will begin to actually experience happiness in the midst of your suffering. This is an unusual and wonderful feeling that will water the seeds of freedom within you. May this practice bring great benefit to you!
My deepest gratitude to Lama Zopa for his priceless teachings.
May life’s beauty never escape your eyes
Best wishes
James Kovacs