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to it. The secret of spiritual practice is to know, not to react to it, not for consumption. When man begins to use everything towards consumption, he becomes sad. But when he only knows, he does not become sad.
The lofty rule for meditation
There is one single lofty rule for both meditation and religion: know pain but do not experience it. There is pain in the body. Know that, do not experience it. The one who only knows, reduces the intensity of the ailment while the one who experiences it increases it. If there is pain somewhere, know it and you will find it reduces. When you start experiencing it, it increases. Those who know illness and see it, treat it as a guest. Poor thing has come in today to leave tomorrow. If he wants to stay longer, let him. What difference does it make? A guest is after all only a guest, not a permanent resident. He comes and goes. When man begins to experience his illness then he becomes restless and takes all kinds of medicines to treat it. He wishes to erase it within seconds.
There is fear of pain. That fear creates imbalance in the whole body. One will experience pain
Acharya Mahaprajna
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