Good Suffering versus Bad Suffering

Ajahn Chah (ajahnchah.org) via Ven. Sujato; Aloka, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Grasping for pleasures, I'm disappointed.

There are two kinds of suffering -- the suffering that leads to more suffering, and the suffering that leads to the end of suffering.

The first is the pain of grasping after [and trying to cling to] fleeting pleasures with an aversion for the unpleasant and displeasing, the continued struggle of most people day after day.

The second is the suffering that comes when we allow ourselves to feel fully the constant change of experience -- pleasure, pain, joy, and anger -- free of fear or withdrawing.

The suffering of our experience leads to inner fearlessness, [letting go], and peace. More