What does it mean pain is inevitable suffering is optional?

There’s a Japanese poet who’s a marathoner [Haruki Murakami] and one of the things that he says is, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” When you think about it that way, it’s going to hurt, but you are the one who’s making the choice whether you’re going to suffer or not. So choose to not suffer.

Who said pain is necessary suffering optional?

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” This quote has been attributed to the Dalai Lama, Haruki Murakami, and M. Kathleen Casey.

How do I make suffering optional?

While pain is unavoidable in life, suffering is optional. Pain is the feeling of unpleasant physical sensations or emotions. Suffering is the struggle, denial, worry, regret, indignation, complaining, and self-pity wrapped around pain. To let go of suffering, you must first allow and accept the pain.

Is pain and suffering the same as emotional distress?

Pain and Suffering is a Type of Damages – Not a Separate Cause of Action. Emotional distress is a separate cause of action. Pain and suffering are types of damages. For example, you can sue someone for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

What’s the legal term for pain and suffering?

Compensatory Damages – This includes things like pain and suffering, economic losses, lost earnings, property damages, and more. Within Compensatory Damages there are even MORE categories.

Is pain inevitable but suffering is optional?

There is a famous adage: “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.” This anonymous saying sums up what you can learn about pain through mindfulness. You cannot avoid pain. Even if you are physically healthy now, at some point you may get sick, you may get hurt, and age and physical changes will occur. Pain is inevitable.

Is suffering necessary?

Suffering Is Optional. Along with other conditions, including the ease of delivery, the answer may lie in how to relate to pain. Clearly, sensory experiences are different, but how we relate to them—big or small—plays a powerful role as well.

What is the meaning of “pain is inevitable”?

So this principle is applied to things like having our feelings hurt. When our feelings are hurt, this is “pain.” We often respond to hurt feelings by blaming the other person, or ourselves, and this results in more pain (“suffering.”) “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional” is a very valid teaching, and consonant with the Buddha’s teaching.

Is there a life without pain and suffering?

There is no one whose life is free from pain, who does not wish to be free of suffering, and who does not deserve compassion. We are all in this together. Practice sitting quietly a few minutes each day without letting your thoughts or feelings run things.