Appreciate the suffering. This does not mean to enjoy it and to seek it our, or to crave more of it in a self-punishing way. By appreciating the perceived tarnished perfection of life, we stop resisting the impending suffering. Instead, we welcome it to the table for tea and curiously and openly see what it needs to share with us, what is has to offer, just as Buddha did by welcoming Mara. Buddha did not seek out Mara, but when Mara inevitably shows up in our life, welcome Mara. If we do not answer the door, Mara is forced to become stronger in order to break through the door. The door being our psyche.
Just as a perfect circle is so satisfying to look at even more so to create, we too strive for perfection in our lives. We seek out examples of perfection around us. We think, “When everything will be perfect, then I’ll be happy.” Okay, so we eventually get glimpses of a perfect moment, a glimpse at a “perfect” life. But once we draw this perfect circle, we do everything in our power to keep this circle perfectly round and unstained.
In this process, we have no attention left to enjoy the perfect circle, a precious moment in life, while it is around. Like everything, the circle is ephemeral, but we are too attached to eliminate suffering forever that we forget to enjoy life as it is. The circle then gets stained and we begin to feel suffering.
But who created the circle: the circle, or us?
Also, why do we think that suffering is so bad? When someone outside of us changes the circle from its perfect shape, life becomes more interesting. We can only appreciate and welcome the external world if we are not severely attached to the circle remaining perfect.
After all, does the circle really belong to us?
Suffering is like a homogenous colour being mixed with a foreign colour. The mix is unpredictable, messy; it’s unknown territory. It also cannot ever be undone. This new mix of colour, just like the new shape created from the adjustment of the initial circle, keeps life uncertain and therefore interesting. In a way, it’s what we live for. They have the power to satisfy the curious mind.
Maybe suffering actually gives us something to look forward to. Maybe it gives us purpose in life, as it forces us to adapt and grow, remaining open to the flow of the universe.
