Reflections on Staying Open to the World (Link #571)

Speaker: Matthew Minier. Matthew contemplates how staying open to the suffering in the world allows us to support our aspiration to benefit beings and to liberate ourselves from samsara. Succumbing to the temptation to avoid discomfort only leads us deeper into our cocoons, narrowing our understanding and ability to respond to painful situations. But if we instead choose to face painful situations directly, we cultivate the means to benefit ourselves and others. Our ability to respond to suffering supports others. It enables us to respond compassionately and to recognize unforeseen possibilities for relieving pain; it develops our sense of grit and perseverance, preparing us to meet future adversity with equanimity and courage; and it enriches our lives with the understanding that the stories we tell ourselves about "how things are" do not actually represent what is true or what is possible.