Published Thursday, 08 December 2022
Since ancient times it has been the case that
those who speak too much are criticised,
as are those who speak too little
and those who don’t speak at all.
Everyone in this world is criticised.Dhammapada v.227
It can hurt to be criticised. It can hurt to feel we are failing. Since there is no way of getting through this life without being both criticised and feeling like we are failing, surely we need to learn how to meet the hurt without turning it into suffering. Hurt is another word for pain, and all sentient beings experience pain. The Buddha experienced pain, though it didn’t cause him to suffer. Neither having to put up with problematic monks, nor the discomfort of old age and sickness disturbed his inner clarity and contentment. From his Awakening onward, the Buddha’s consciousness was free from all tendencies to seek security in habits of clinging to the body-mind. If we want to cease from turning the inevitable pain of life into suffering, we need to learn to do likewise. We need to stop seeking for a sense of identity by clinging and realize true security can only be found in selfless, just-knowing awareness.