Even while distracted, there is still pain. The discomfort is never completely gone.
This probably sounds terrible! And it is, but...
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There is also an equal and opposite reaction. A lot of "problems" are more accurately described as the consequences of pathological behavior
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And when the behaviour is bad, and you can see that it's fake and does not actually address your pain, there is a strong incentive to let go
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In letting go, the problem then evaporates. It is just not there anymore, its originative behaviour cut off.
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So you feel different every moment, cut to a natural awareness of pain-as-it-comes. Some days suck, others are fine, but you are *there*.
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This is most certainly not how meditation is generally advertised, but it's what happens when you have strong, unresolved issues.
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Another, more surprising effect, is that most forms of fear people feel seem to be regulatory. It's there to inhibit "bad" behaviour.
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Once those inhibitions (the ones that are clearly phony and counter-productive) start to break down, there is a whole lot less fear.
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I feel sadness, anger and other emotions with far deeper intensity and more often than I remember doing before, but I'm almost never scared.
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Awakenings tend to be uneven. I didn't get an awakening around anger until 2 years after my 1st awakening & even after it took time.
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I suspect anger is one of the most difficult ones, along with just straight up sadness/pain. It's most commonly suppressed by family/school.
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Cultivation does get to a lot of this stuff, in time. At the same time, this stuff is a hindrance & IF it can be dealt with w/therapy, good
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If there is too much stuff it can slow down or halt cultivation progress. If you're past 1st awakening (you are) only slow
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