pain

Americans are fond of saying that we have a history of protest. From the American Revolution to the Vietnam War, we have staged protests from one credo group to another as the Revolutionary Blood has run hot through our veins. We have said accept our voices, we are not violent. It is our history, it is in our blood.

What we have not noted is the American—as in U.S. Government—response. That has not been a voice, loud or silent. It has been one of violence. The U.S. Government has not ever been one of quiet patronage and a “there, there, loud child,” posture. From behind-the-scenes investigations of Eugene Debs voters and followers to the overthrow of foreign governments, the U.S. government has spilled blood. Including that of its own citizens.

Today is an important reminder. Today is May 4. It matters. This is a reminder of how the U.S. Government shot down students. Students. Young people in peaceful protest. Remember the children who placed flowers in rifles which were pointed at them? Those kids. That’s who the U.S. Government killed and wounded. The nation should go dark and mourn. But it doesn’t.

Not many people recall or were there. The American Revolutionary Blood that has been spilled, not by another factious group, not by a foreign government, but by the U.S. Government. Some people still wear the scars.

CSU Archives/Everett Collection

Because pain is only pain when we are attached to it—both physical and emotional—I dug out some words by Krishnamurti. It’s the holidays. For many there’s an emotional difficulty as we are missing some loved ones. For others those pains translate to the addition of muscle and bone aches and bruises. Did you notice you’re bumping into corners and edges more?

Maybe none of this applies to you right now. Tuck these thoughts aside, then, and come back when there’s a need.

Photos From Hygge—The Art of Comfortable Living

J. Krishnamurti – Words of Wisdom

Here are the passages taken from page 74 of the book “On Love and loneliness” by J.Krishnamurti.

TO OBSERVE PHYSICAL OR BODILY PAIN

All of us know physical pain– a little or a great deal – and we can deal with it medically and in other ways. You can observe pain with a mind that is not attached, with a mind that can observe bodily pain as though from the outside. One can observe one’s toothache and not be emotionally, psychologically involved in it. When you are involved emotionally and psychologically with that pain in the tooth, then the pain becomes more, you get terribly anxious, fearful. I do not know if you have noticed this fact.

The key is to be aware of the physical, physiological, biological pain, and in that awareness not get involved with it psychologically. Being aware of the physical pain – and the psychological involvement with it which intensifies the pain and brings about anxiety, fear – and keeping the psychological factor entirely out req aloofness, a certain quality of unattached observation. Then that pain doesn’t distort the activities of the mind; then that physical pain doesn’t bring about neurotic activity of the mind.