Transforming Pain and Pleasure Into Spiritual Calm and Bliss

All sensations carry signals through the nervous system to the brain, which then can interpret the signal. The signal may be more or less intense. It may be interpreted as pain or pleasure. Intensity of the sensation has something to do with the experience and its interpretation. There is a certain intensity which is comfortable for an individual, and beyond that intensity, it is frequently interpreted as painful. Thus, the signal traveling to the brain, in and of itself is not necessarily pleasurable or painful. It is the interpretation that is given to that signal that makes the difference.

In this regard, individuals sometimes undertake to build up their ability to withstand more intense signals, and through systematic efforts they find that what used to be painful to them is no longer painful! In some cases, there is a vital or emotional component that helps to convert the otherwise painful experience into one of ecstatic bliss. This sometimes happen with yogic practitioners who go beyond pain and have extraordinary inner experiences once they pass that threshold.

For example, we see yogis who sit, lie down or walk on spiked beds or spiked sandals. If anyone else tries those same things, without the focus and the practice, they experience intensely painful sensations. Yet one can observe such individuals who have practiced this as a technique for years who are clearly joyful and not in pain at all. They have entered into another psychological space that converts the signal they receive through the nerves into a form of ecstasy, or in some cases, spiritual joy.

While these examples refer to rather extreme steps taken by individuals to ‘push the limits’, one can see analogous results where the spiritual seeking is sincere and firm, that leave the seeker with calm or deep sense of inner joy even in the midst of experiencing ‘painful’ sensations.

It is not just painful sensations however that can be transformed. Oftentimes it is pleasurable sensations that represent the true obstacle for a seeker, who can become so enamoured of the experience that he fails to make further progress, but simply tries to repeat the pleasurable sensation and wallow in it.

Sri Aurobindo writes in his Thoughts and Aphorisms: “There is no iron or ineffugable law that a given contact shall create pain or pleasure; it is the way the soul meets the rush or pressure of Brahman upon the members from outside them that determines either reaction.”

The Mother observes: “It is obvious that the same event or the same contact causes pleasure in one and pain in another, depending on the inner attitude taken by each one.”

“And this observation leads towards a great realisation; for once one has not only understood but also felt that the Supreme Lord is the originator of all things and one remains constantly in contact with Him, all becomes the action of His Grace and is changed into calm and luminous bliss.”

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pg. 6