Buddhist resources on coping with pain

[danieLion]

I guess this is just informational. These are only the ones I've listened to or read. So, if you know of more please add, especially if they're suttas with content about pain, illness, sickness, aging, death, healing, etc... .
Kind wishes.
Daniel


AUDIO:

Ines Freedman (really great practical tips):
-Working with Pain: http://www.audiodharma.org/series/57/talk/1780
-Guided Meditations for Working with Pain: http://www.audiodharma.org/series/57/talk/1781/

-Working with Pain by Bhikkhu Bodhi: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/2168.html (wherein he discusses asking Joseph Goldstein for meditation advice for dealing with pain).

Reverend Thanissaro:
-Pain Is Not the Enemy: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/1205 ... _Enemy.mp3
-Pain, Self & Not-self: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/1202 ... t-self.mp3
-Facing Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/1111 ... g_Pain.mp3
-Be Bigger than Your Pains: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/1009 ... 0Pains.mp3
-Insight Into Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/1006 ... 20Pain.mp3
-Facing Pain Straight On: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/1002 ... ght-on.mp3
-Comprehending Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/0907 ... 20Pain.mp3
-Friends With Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/0508 ... 20Pain.mp3
-Pleasure & Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/0504 ... 20Pain.mp3 (same as text below)
-Pain & Suffering: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/0212 ... fering.mp3
-The Uses of Pleasure & Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/0108 ... 20Pain.mp3 (same as text below)

TEXT:

Reverend Thanissaro:
-Pleasure & Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writ ... 20Pain.pdf (same as audio above)
-The Uses of Pleasure & Pain: http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writ ... 20Pain.pdf (same as audio above)

Reverend Lee:
-Handbook for the Relief of Suffering: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... dbook.html

Upasika Kee Nanayon:
-The Details of Pain: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... .html#pain
-For Meditators When They Are Ill: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... ddose.html (one of my favorites)

Reverend Boowa:
-Straight From the Heart: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai ... aight.html
In particular, the essays:
-"Feelings of Pain" and
-"Investigating Pain" (some more of my favorites).
This whole book is good for ill practitioners as it's a transcription of talks the Reverend gave to one of his students dying of cancer.

Suttas:
-The Stone Silver/SN 1.38 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-The Arrow/SN 36.6 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-The Sick Ward/SN 36.7 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-Sick/SN 41.10 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-Ill/SN 46.14, the Gilana Sutta I: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-Old Age/SN 48.41 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-Illness/SN 52.10. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-Two People/AN 3.51 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-Two People (2)/AN 3.52 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-Subjects for Contemplation: AN 5.57 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
-To a Sick Man/AN 5.121 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Non Theravadin Teachers:
Shinzen Young, Breakthrough Pain. Synopsis: http://www.shinzen.org/Articles/artPain.pdf
Darlene Cohen, e.g.: http://www.darlenecohen.net/welcome/mindfulness.html (she wrote some books too).

[danieLion]

Forgot this:

Audio:

A Refuge from Death: http://www.dhammatalks.org/mp3_collections_index.html

Chants (group), Suttas Read, & Dhamma Talks by Reverend Thanissaro (Nice for contemplation).

(scroll down about two thirds of way)

Best,
Daniel

[reflection]

Ajahn Jayasaro - Buddhist Meditation (9) Physical Pain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrVwj1dx_BU

[danieLion]

Thanks, reflection.

[danieLion]

Using Meditation to Deal with Pain, Illness & Death by Reverend Thanissaro: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... nhelp.html

Very practical.
Excerpt:

As you strip away all the mental paraphernalia surrounding your pain — including the idea that the pain is yours or is happening to you — you find that you finally come down to the label that simply says, This is a pain and it's right there. When you can get past this, that's when your meditation undergoes a breakthrough. One way is to simply notice that this label will arise and then pass away. When it comes, it increases the pain. When it goes, the pain subsides. Then try to see that the body, the pain and your awareness are all three separate things — like three pieces of string that have been tied into a knot, but which you now untie. When you can do this, you find that there is no pain that you cannot endure.

Another area where meditation can help you is to live with the simple fact of your body being ill. For some people, accepting this fact is one of the hardest parts of illness. But once you have developed a solid center in your mind, you can base your happiness there, and begin to view illness with a lot more equanimity. We have to remember that illness is not cheating us out of any-thing. It's simply a part of life. As I said earlier, illness is normal; health is miracle. The idea of all the complex systems of the body functioning properly is so improbable that we shouldn't be surprised when they start breaking down.

Best,
Daniel

[Modus.Ponens]

Have you tried the paritta chants on the 7 factors of enlightenment? They are suposed to cure illnesses. I've had a tooth ache one time, i read one of the parittas on the 7FOE and the pain went away. Coincidence? Maybe, but for someone who is in real pain, it wouldn't hurt to try.

[danieLion]

Have you tried the paritta chants on the 7 factors of enlightenment? They are suposed to cure illnesses. I've had a tooth ache one time, i read one of the parittas on the 7FOE and the pain went away. Coincidence? Maybe, but for someone who is in real pain, it wouldn't hurt to try.

Thanks Modus.Ponens

[danieLion]

Ajahn Jayasaro - Buddhist Meditation (9) Physical Pain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrVwj1dx_BU

Working with pain is not something you want to do very often.... Your enjoyment of meditation is probably the most important condition for you to be able to maintain a steady mediation practice. If you start to conceive of meditation as being a daily struggle with pain before long you might find some pretty good reasons to cut down the sessions or eliminate them altogether, because nobody wants to have to deal with that on such a regular basis. So, every now and again take on pain as a meditation object. It's an important part of meditation and a good skill to learn... (8:25-9:20)

[Modus.Ponens]

Note that the parittas on the 7FOE were rcited by a monk to a sick person. Even the Buddha once heard a paritta by someone else, so maybe the full power of a paritta is only harnessed when it is recited to you by a monk.

[danieLion]

Thanks to reflection for the Rev. Jayasaro link where I found this.

Dealing With Pain and Using Suffering as a Vehicle for Enlightenment by Reverend Yuttadhammo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BldDclol ... re=related

[danieLion]

...i read one of the parittas on the 7FOE...

Hi Modus.Ponens,
Do you mean SN 46.14-16, the Gilana Suttas 1-3?
Best,
Daniel

[danieLion]

SUTTAS:

Thanks to Modus.Ponens for the lead.

SN 46.16, the Gilana Sutta III: Ill. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .piya.html (Piyadassi Thera Tr; cf. SN 46.15 the Gilana Sutta II: Ill which I couldn't find online).

[marc108]

-Working with Pain by Bhikkhu Bodhi: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/2168.html (wherein he discusses asking Joseph Goldstein for meditation advice for dealing with pain).

this was an awesome talk. really puts the small amount of pain i have into perspective. it's also really neat to hear a monastic taking instruction from one of the great lay masters.

my first teacher has severe rheumatoid arthritis. i had some pretty bad pain come up during extended periods of sitting, and when i asked him how he sat with his pain he gave me the same instruction the Joseph Goldstein gave, to use the pain as an object of concentration. it's unbelievably difficult, and thusfar i have not been able to do it effectively. gives me even more respect for Bhikkhu Bodhi.

[Modus.Ponens]

...i read one of the parittas on the 7FOE...

Hi Modus.Ponens,
Do you mean SN 46.14-16, the Gilana Suttas 1-3?
Best,
Daniel

I don't know. The Book of Protection can be found on ATI. Here is the link to the part of the book that's relevant here:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... n.html#s12

[danieLion]

-Working with Pain by Bhikkhu Bodhi: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/2168.html (wherein he discusses asking Joseph Goldstein for meditation advice for dealing with pain).

this was an awesome talk. really puts the small amount of pain i have into perspective. it's also really neat to hear a monastic taking instruction from one of the great lay masters.

my first teacher has severe rheumatoid arthritis. i had some pretty bad pain come up during extended periods of sitting, and when i asked him how he sat with his pain he gave me the same instruction the Joseph Goldstein gave, to use the pain as an object of concentration. it's unbelievably difficult, and thusfar i have not been able to do it effectively. gives me even more respect for Bhikkhu Bodhi.

I share your sentiments precisely. When I heard it Bhikkhu Bodhi was all ready one of my favorite teachers and I like Goldstein a lot too. I do have pain levels comparable to Bodhi's, but I guess I'm not as tough as he (yet?), because I haven't figured out a way to be productive with chronic pain as he evidently has. We all know how prolific he is, and to do it with his chronic pain issues is truly inspiring.
Best,
Daniel

[danieLion]

...i read one of the parittas on the 7FOE...

Hi Modus.Ponens,
Do you mean SN 46.14-16, the Gilana Suttas 1-3?
Best,
Daniel

I don't know. The Book of Protection can be found on ATI. Here is the link to the part of the book that's relevant here:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... n.html#s12

Thanks again Modus.Ponens. Yes, this is SN 46.14. Now, to find a monastic willing to chant it to me....
Kind wishes,
Daniel

[Modus.Ponens]

You're welcome.

[danieLion]

Just a reminder. If you know of any other Buddhist resources for coping with pain, please share.
Kind intents,
Daniel

[danieLion]

Two talks titled Pain by Joseph Goldstein

4.13.83 (IMSRC)
Stream: http://dharmaseed.org/talks/audio_player/96/1405.html

Download: http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/96/talk/1405/

5.24.83 (IMSRC)
Stream: http://dharmaseed.org/talks/audio_player/96/1390.html

Download: http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/96/talk/1390/

These talks are excellent. They're essentially the same talk, except for the Q & As which are both also superb.

Topics covered: types of pain, self-pity & pain, fear & pain, pain & samādhi/as a concentration object/aid to awakening, healing, pain & humor, forgiveness, trust.

The April talk has a dead air gap from 29:40-35:14 and the May talk has a shorter one from 29:40-32:40.

[danieLion]

Pain & Trust by Joseph Goldstein

Stream: http://dharmaseed.org/talks/audio_player/96/1456.html

Download: http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/96/talk/1456/

Some redundancy with two I posted above, but there's also some new stuff that's helpful.

Best,
Daniel