Turning Suffering Inside Out: A Zen Approach for Living with Physical and Emotional Pain

by Darlene Cohen

Darlene
Cohen discovered the secret to finding happiness in the midst of debilitating
pain. She shares her knowledge in her popular workshops and now in this book.
Cohen, who has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for eighteen years, was
hobbling painfully to her local Zen center one day, when she made a discovery
that changed her life: if she focused on the foot that was in the air rather
than the one that was hitting the pavement, her stamina increased enormously.
It was the beginning of a completely different approach to the crippling pain
that had beset her for so long. As she demonstrates here, this approach can be
expanded to all types of pain: physical, psychological, and spiritual.

Cohen—a
certified massage and movement therapist and Zen teacher—proposes a radically
liberating alternative to the usual desperate search for pain relief:
paradoxically, she says, release from suffering lies in paying closer attention
to it. When we keep pain at bay, we keep pleasure at bay, too. The two are
interdependent, and our ability to experience each is totally dependent on our
understanding of the other.

"Enrich
your life exponentially," Cohen advises. If your pain is one of the ten things
you are aware of, then it constitutes a tenth of your total awareness. Expand
your awareness to a hundred things, however, and your pain is only a hundredth
of your awareness. With stories, strategies, exercises, and an awareness born
of long Zen practice, Cohen shows us how to tap into that enrichment—and how
we can lead a satisfying and even joyful life in the very midst of pain.

This
book was published in hardcover under the title
Finding
a Joyful Life in the Heart of Pain.

Genres: Buddhism, Health, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2002

Reviews

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have chronic pain, and suffering isn't something I think of often in the fortunate 70+ years I've lived AND I still rate this book five stars for its ability to lead me more deeply into meditation.
(Why did I pick it up in the first place? Because I interact often with people in painful circumstances and thought it might be helpful. However, as often happens, the lessons turned out to be for me.)

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very light read of this book, as many of these concepts are not new to me. Some awesome strategies for dealing with suffering in general, and incorporating meditation practice into every day life. Really great for opening the heart and becoming more self aware to all our sufferings so that we can embrace life in a new way despite them.

[Billie Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a deeper look into the realms of pain and suffering. The author shares personal stories of reconciling her Buddhist practice with her experiences living with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as practical advice for day-to-day life and how to get through the worst times.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the subject of dealing with pain it offered some very good strategies. My quibble is with the more advanced discussions about Zen thought. I have been reading a lot of books lately with a similar focus and it’s not the first one to have the following problem: they can’t seem to decide if their audience is beginner or intermediate. This book contains detailed instructions on how to sit during meditation (beginner) but is also peppered with quotes and lengthy discussions about the thoughts of a various luminaries. Frankly, some of the author's stories about her personal experiences are cringe-worthy and I got a bit impatient with the navel gazing.

[Leia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read sections of this book at least five times over the last few years. Officially read all of it today. One of the most helpful books I’ve regarding pain.

[Matthew Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

what to do about thought?

the "how to" of working with what comes up during zazen and how to get a head start dealing with old age, sickness and death

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember whether my Feldenkrais teacher told me about this, or if I just stumbled across it. The author is a massage and movement therapist as well as a Zen teacher. She works with many folks suffering from chronic pain -- which she struggles with as well. She talks about the place of mindfulness and meditation in terms of wellness. I really like the following quote: "It's very important for all of us that our suffering register with someone, that someone take it seriously. It's most helpful to feel suffering and let it pass through you, not sticking anywhere." She goes on to talk about those in helping professions -- "I think what meditation and mindfulness do for people in these situations is widen their weave -- that is, awareness without judgment makes the openings in their bodies large enough for large amounts of suffering to be registereed and them pass through, leaving no trace." A helpful, if at times challenging, book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most life-changing book I have read in fifteen years. This book struck so deeply to the heart of my experience and my struggles as a human being that it was difficult to read some chapters due to my intense self-consciousness. I read the book slowly, and already have experienced a meaningful shift in my experience of my difficult life right now. There's a lot that I'm still digesting, though, so I'm excited and hopeful to begin working with more of this dharma in the near future.

[Jodell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be more about emotional suffering but there were some good pieces of information I gathered

[Lancer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will definitely incorporate ideas, concepts, and exercises learned here.