Monks Meditating on pain

[aiir]

I saw in the news a buddhist monk that burned himself because he was protesting and just sat there burning until he was dead. He did not move or scream. Then a different guy I saw online was only set aflame a tiny bit with only 15% of his body and was running around screaming.

So how do the monks do this? Anything you can think of please such as how to think like a monk and how to meditate and have certain thoughts to reduce pain? Anything would be of great help as I have cancer and can't wait to practice your advice.

Thank You very much.

 

[David T]

Are you planning on setting yourself on fire?

 

[aiir]

Are you planning on setting yourself on fire?

no. I have cancer.

 

[Sunstone]

I'm not an expert meditator, but I do know it's not a matter of having certain thoughts to escape pain. The idea that one can crowd out pain by thinking, say, pleasant thoughts is mistaken. Beyond that, I'd rather not say anything for fear of misleading you. Sorry to hear you have cancer.

 

[Vinayaka]

Often it's simply not as painful as it looks. Difficult to judge by looking at it. I've read that fasting, for example, has a natural metabolic pain relief to it. Bottom line is we may not understand the body as well as we might think. With burning, perhaps once the nerve endings are gone, there is no pain.

Firewalkers, kavadi, come to mind.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I saw in the news a buddhist monk that burned himself because he was protesting and just sat there burning until he was dead. He did not move or scream. Then a different guy I saw online was only set aflame a tiny bit with only 15% of his body and was running around screaming.

So how do the monks do this? Anything you can think of please such as how to think like a monk and how to meditate and have certain thoughts to reduce pain? Anything would be of great help as I have cancer and can't wait to practice your advice.

Thank You very much.

Hi @aiir. Sorry to hear about your having cancer. I hope your prognosis is hopeful.

But addressing your post, I have a hypothesis, but unfortunately I'm unable to test it. Let's see if the reason pans out in my explanation...

When I meditate, my goal is to observe as my (higher) Self. In doing so, I transcend thought by way of becoming the observer of my (lower) self. My hypothesis is that in that transcendence, when one is solely the observer and has successfully transcended the (lower) self, one is not feeling the pain, but simply observing it, as one would observe another person experiencing pain. Unfortunately, I am unable to test this on my own, because taking physical action to self-inflict pain would cause me to return to thought, which would bring me back to experiencing the pain rather than observing it.

One observation I have made in my experience meditating, however, is that when I begin meditating and the room temperature isn't optimal, I don't notice once in a meditative state if I'm feeling hot or cold until I end my meditation.


ETA: Disclaimer: I am in no way in my response here condoning one setting oneself on fire. If you are considering this, please seek help from a medical professional.

ETA2: Changing terminology from 'theory' to 'hypothesis,' as given the fact that I am unable to test or measure this, It's really more than a hypothesis than a theory.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Are you planning on setting yourself on fire?

I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[David T]

no. I have cancer.

Then indeed this makes sense. Pain isn't avoided in certain monastic traditions. It's actually very central in ancient Christianity. Learning how to embrace pain is not easy. And with cancer I am not sure how that would work. I would recommend finding some literature on it though. BTW my thoughts go out to you hang In there and do grasp to moment to spend a bit of time away from the noise of daily life.

 

[Sunstone]

Hi @aiir. Sorry to hear about your having cancer. I hope your prognosis is hopeful.

But addressing your post, I have a theory, but unfortunately I'm unable to test it. Let's see if the reason pans out in my explanation...

When I meditate, my goal is to observe as my (higher) Self. In doing so, I transcend thought by way of becoming the observer of my (lower) self. My theory is that in that transcendence, when one is solely the observer and has successfully transcended the (lower) self, one is not feeling the pain, but simply observing it, as one would observe another person experiencing pain. Unfortunately, I am unable to test this on my own, because taking physical action to self-inflict pain would cause me to return to thought, which would bring me back to experiencing the pain rather than observing it.

I wouldn't mind standing behind you with a stick and beating you every now and then while you meditate, Salix, so you can test your theory. No need to thank me, it'll be my pleasure.

 

[David T]

I wouldn't recommend it.

Yea, but he has cancer so this post makes sense.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I wouldn't mind standing behind you with a stick and beating you every now and then while you meditate, Salix, so you can test your theory. No need to thank me, it'll be my pleasure.

I'm on board with this. I'll ask that you simply assume that I am in a transcended state rather than asking me, as you might cause me to return to my waking state and causing me to experience the pain.

Oh, and please be as quiet as possible while beating me.

 

[Kenny]

What kind of cancer and what is the prognosis?

 

[Twilight Hue]

no. I have cancer.

Well there's a saying if there's life There's Hope.

I feel bad for your situation, the best way is to traverse your pain is in a way that's direct.

Buddhism will not ease your pain or cure you. However it will help in facing pain and suffering, see it for what it is and understanding the nature of pain, you might find things might go a bit easier.

You don't deal with pain by pretending you're superman or made of fireproof ceramic or whatever. You simply acknowledge it, observe it's effects, and let it pass when the intensity and duration die down. Understanding will come about as each episode arises and passes.

Do what you can by way of medicines and treatments to minimize pain and suffering.

Please take care of yourself and hope you will get better as much as it is possible.

 

[DavidFirth]

I saw in the news a buddhist monk that burned himself because he was protesting and just sat there burning until he was dead. He did not move or scream. Then a different guy I saw online was only set aflame a tiny bit with only 15% of his body and was running around screaming.

So how do the monks do this? Anything you can think of please such as how to think like a monk and how to meditate and have certain thoughts to reduce pain? Anything would be of great help as I have cancer and can't wait to practice your advice.

Thank You very much.

Morphine

 

[Kemosloby]

Ignore it, think about something else. Running around screaming diverts your attention from the pain but the monk looks cooler by just not thinking about it.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I saw in the news a buddhist monk that burned himself because he was protesting and just sat there burning until he was dead. He did not move or scream. Then a different guy I saw online was only set aflame a tiny bit with only 15% of his body and was running around screaming.

So how do the monks do this? Anything you can think of please such as how to think like a monk and how to meditate and have certain thoughts to reduce pain? Anything would be of great help as I have cancer and can't wait to practice your advice.

Thank You very much.

Just wanted to say Godspeed in recovering from cancer.

 

[Thief]

I saw in the news a buddhist monk that burned himself because he was protesting and just sat there burning until he was dead. He did not move or scream. Then a different guy I saw online was only set aflame a tiny bit with only 15% of his body and was running around screaming.

So how do the monks do this? Anything you can think of please such as how to think like a monk and how to meditate and have certain thoughts to reduce pain? Anything would be of great help as I have cancer and can't wait to practice your advice.

Thank You very much.

black belt here......
and coincidentally I've had a number of painful accidents.....

on one occasion....as 'feeling' returned to my arms
limp and completely unresponding....
the nerves come back with on overload of 'tingle'
grit your teeth and take it

I realized
we are in pain at all times
It HURTS to be alive

why do we not scream and cry continually?
our brains re-calibrate the incoming sensation

I've had a hypo needle up my nostrils all the way between my eyes
three times
THAT really hurts

and the instructors of the martial art I studied
can stand in place and suffer SERIOUS impact and not gringe
( not me....I don't mind the swearing that followings.....and the hopping around)

I feel for your situation

My wife had colon cancer
and the empathy almost killed me

I hope for you the same level of recover as my wife did manage

for now, focus on DOING something
carry on as if you are just fine

I realize what I am saying
be brave
be strong

 

[aiir]

I found this post and would like to know is there anything similar to this way of thinking? Thanks

You can control your reaction to anything as long as you stay with what you're feeling and accept everything as it comes. The monk did it by leaning into burning alive.

 

[Thief]

I wouldn't mind standing behind you with a stick and beating you every now and then while you meditate, Salix, so you can test your theory. No need to thank me, it'll be my pleasure.

so you have seen the actual practice? (on tv)
monks in sitting positions .....as still as can be
with another monk ever so quietly walking about among them

and it seems at random......the wandering monk will tap his brother on the shoulder
with a big stick
that fellow will lean forward and take a really harsh swat on the back
with that big stick
and the rise back to sitting.......as if nothing happened

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I saw in the news a buddhist monk that burned himself because he was protesting and just sat there burning until he was dead. He did not move or scream. Then a different guy I saw online was only set aflame a tiny bit with only 15% of his body and was running around screaming.

So how do the monks do this? Anything you can think of please such as how to think like a monk and how to meditate and have certain thoughts to reduce pain? Anything would be of great help as I have cancer and can't wait to practice your advice.

Thank You very much.

I'ma dodge the fire question and focus more on the death part. In Tibetan Buddhism they focus on different types of analytical meditations one which I'm going through is the Lam Rim cycle.

Instead of dying or thinking of taking their life, they focus on the impermanence or changing of the life we have now and our bodies die as soon as it is born. It's more being comfortable with death rather than suicidal gestures. So, in a general sense since everyone's situation is different, many Buddhists will focus on the change of their body and do things for others to bring good merit and ease their passing. Others may be more meditation oriented and just focus really on calming the body through the dying process.

Regardless, burning oneself isn't a universal buddhist practice. I wouldn't suggest anyone to do that regardless of the religion.