One way might be to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to be in our current situation. For example, we can tell ourselves we are lucky to be alive if we have injured only one part of our body. However, we should remember that what works for one person might not work for another person.
All feelings are produced by thoughts. If we are suffering, this means that our thought patterns have been set up to produce suffering. In order to change our feelings, we need to reconfigure our thought patterns.
However in alleviating suffering, we should not become too attached to positive emotions. We need to remember the impermanence of all things.
Older people in particular are likely to have accumulated many methods for dealing with difficult situations, and that they should share this wisdom with others. According to Buddhist teachings, we have a lot of energy when we are young, yet lack the knowledge or wisdom. When we become older, we have more wisdom and knowledge, yet lack the energy.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 January 2009 16:28