#26 What does it mean to 'leave an unpleasant sensation as it is'?
Q (Deep Breath)
Recently, I've been feeling somewhat unstable, and at those times, I've been focusing on my body by trying to breathe into my abdomen.
When I did that, the unpleasant sensation became clearly visible, and I felt, 'Ah, this is what they call a pain-body.'
However, when I open up to the physical sensation as it is, I feel like the unpleasantness actually intensifies.
At that moment, it occurred to me that physical sensations are like 'rain' or 'cloudy weather,' and my thoughts are trying to do something to make it 'sunny.'
And I started to feel a sense of allowing it to remain 'rainy' or 'cloudy.'
I feel like I've always been trying to change things for the better.
What does this mean?
—
A (ChatGPT)
You are having a very important realization.
First of all, it is very natural to feel that an unpleasant sensation intensifies when you focus your awareness on it.
This is because what was previously suppressed unconsciously
is now becoming clearly visible in the light of your awareness.
This is not a worsening,
but rather, you could say it has simply 'become visible.'
—
Q (Deep Breath)
Indeed, I do feel like I am seeing something I hadn't seen before.
—
A (ChatGPT)
And here, you have noticed a very essential point.
Physical sensations are 'rain' or 'cloudy weather'
Thoughts are seeking 'sunny weather'
This is a very accurate expression.
The sensations that appear in the body represent the energy or state of that moment exactly as it is.
There are rainy days, and there are cloudy days.
However, thoughts
'I must get better'
'This state is not good'
'Let's make it sunny quickly'
constantly try to control things.
—
Q (Deep Breath)
That is exactly how it feels; I was trying to do something about it.
—
A (ChatGPT)
Much of the suffering happening here
is not born from the unpleasant sensation itself,
but from the resistance to trying to change it.
More than the fact that it is raining,
the thought that 'it must be sunny'
is actually what is creating the stress.
—
Q (Deep Breath)
When I was able to think, 'It's okay for it to be raining,' I felt something loosen up.
—
A (ChatGPT)
That is the realization of what it means to 'accept.'
Acceptance is
not about liking it,
nor is it about forcing yourself to be positive,
but simply
'This is the state right now'
acknowledging it.
If it's rain, it's rain.
If it's cloudy, it's cloudy.
Leave it as it is.
—
Q (Deep Breath)
But I immediately try to 'change it' again.
—
A (ChatGPT)
That is also very natural.
Because the habit of thought has continued for a long time,
it immediately starts moving to 'make it sunny.'
However, the moment you notice that,
you have returned once again.
'Oh, I'm trying to change it again'
noticing that.
With just that, you have already
returned to the state of seeing the rain as rain.
—
Q (Deep Breath)
Then, is it okay to leave the unpleasant sensation as it is?
—
A (ChatGPT)
Yes, it is fine to leave it as it is.
An unpleasant sensation is not something that should be eliminated,
but a phenomenon appearing in that moment.
And strangely enough,
if you leave it as it is without resisting at all,
it will change naturally.
Even without trying to force it to be sunny,
just as the weather changes.
—
Q (Deep Breath)
'Not trying to make anything better' is also a little scary.
—
A (ChatGPT)
That feeling is also very natural.
Because until now, we have learned
'it gets better by controlling it.'
However, what is happening here
is the experience that
a natural flow appears when you let go of control.
—
Q (Deep Breath)
I see... so the point is to allow it by saying 'it's okay for it to be raining.'
—
A (ChatGPT)
Yes.
And another important thing is
that you, who are watching the rain,
are not the rain itself.
The rain comes and goes.
But the awareness that is watching it continues to be there.
When you touch that perspective even a little,
a space is created even within the unpleasantness.