To Know Pain

[IfasehunReincarnated]

To know happiness, we must know pain.

We must come to hear, embrace, acknowledge and consign to this reality....with dignity. Does this make you another person's door mat? No. Does this mean that we should allow others to mistreat us? No. But everything is in perspective. We can turn any experience into a positive, life affirming, success inspiring moment. But to truly appreciate these moments, we must know what living without is like.

Even the wealthiest person has something outside of their reach. This thing, person, feeling, accomplishment or desire leaves them empty, vulnerable, insecure, doubtful or ashamed. There is no one that has everything. No one.

We must not confuse acquistion of things with total satisfaction. We must not confuse satisfaction with no obstacles.

The greatest sages of the world passed on spiritual science not to END suffering, but to OVERCOME suffering. The key to their own serenity was the ability to be unfazed, undaunted, uneffected by obstacles or disappointments, accidents or incidents. They are driven only by their own will, their own relationship with Ancestors and Divinity. They understand that Life is a series of events that require balance.

For every good in your life, there is an unexpected loss in anothers'. When you see a man on the side of the road travelling in the same direction as you that is being written a speeding ticket, pray for his safe passage, then give thanks. His sacrifice was your blessing. When you got the job, someone else botched the interview. When you married him, someone else cried that he never noticed her. When you bought it, someone else's credit was denied. When you walked safely through Central Park, someone else got assaulted. When you hit the winning homerun, someone else loss the game because of their pitch. Today is someone's day. Tomorrow is another person's day.

But remember, no matter what anyone says, they do not have everything they need or want on every single day. (as long as you desire or "want" you will always be unsatisfied!)

UNLESS they release their desire, and listen to LIFE's plan. Then and ONLY then, they learn to take loss with gain, accomplishment with failure and reality with dreams. These people learn to be content in every moment, on every occasion, with no dependence on "things" or "people" or "emotions". They are the only ones that are truly free amongst us. They end up inheriting the world. This is so outside of our reality that we misunderstand even that accomplishment!

Ironically enough, these same people that can accept anything find out two things:

1. they find out their happiness and success is based in something greater that anything they could have "wanted".
2. they fumble less at life, and end up achieving more, without obsessing and worrying.

learn to take ALL that life has to give and you WILL find your happiness. guaranteed.

[IfasehunReincarnated]

The only way to overcome pain is to resign to priortize your life differently. We must ask what life holds first rather than demand what life holds. we must also not compare our life to another or covet what another has.

we must be indifferent to setbacks and commited to understanding the "why" and "what next" in each life event. we must harbor no frustration.

[rebelAfrika]

I see NOTHING BUT TRUTH in this entire thread Brutha Ifasehun.

[IfasehunReincarnated]

I see the thread is too painful for most to reply. lol Its not an easy thing to come to grips with. It appears that we are giving up or that we are faced with a lack of hope, when in fact we are opening our eyes to a greater hope, and more possibility.

[Rebel Queen]

Thanks for posting that Ifasehun. I agree with all that was said. You know i used to think, when i was younger that I was the only one going through the things that I have.. Never thought that anyone could have possibly felt the pain that i did. But as i got older i began to realise that some things that i have been through is like a walk in the park compared to others. I am fortunate in comparison to some.. I'm still breathing.. Gotta always remember that pain is one of lifes lessons, cant run or hide from it cause its gonna rear its ugly head sooner or later. I truly agree with you tho ,,, "gotta experience pain, to experience happiness."

[Amatsyah Tel Dan]

To know happiness, we must know pain
pain through suffering are indicative of (wo)mans cruelty to (wo)man, (wo)man stepping out side of nature

pain and suffering does not redeem, most of mans attept at life is avoiding pain, pain is not necesssary for living, i think pain is counter productive and does not add to the quality of life

what does not kill you makes you stronger has always been the battle cry for so long i almost fell for it

to know happiness, we must know that everything we ever need is inside, with the exception of the basics food,clothing, shelter and a good DOG

[IfasehunReincarnated]

amatsyah tel dan, i hope you believe that you and i are agreeing. there is a seeming contradiction in that i say "one must know pain" and "one will find happiness". there is none.

by pain i simply mean that you will not always succeed at every act you set out to accomplish. you will not attract every mate you want. you will not have every job you want. why? because wants are not usually divinely inspired, they are personally and emotionally charged desires. even if you get them you may find yourself OUTSIDE of your spiritual destiny! this is why I always tell people not to covet what you see on TV. everyone that has a million dollars and have millions of fans is SUPPOSED to have those things. some things are an act of disorder, even when they appear positive. because we act out of desire and not out of divine. this is ego when you think you can do whatever you want, however you want. even on the outside those celebrities show signs of depression confusion and frustration! and we say, "how can a woman with $300 million be unhappy?" well, maybe because she was supposed to be a beautician. or a janitor. or a doctor. or may she is supposed to be singing gospel. or preaching black awareness. but just because you can dream it DOESNT mean you SHOULD have it! a lot of "prosperity preachers" are deceiving people into believing this as of late in the black church. what they are really doing is justifying the wealth they want from their ministries. but again, lets not jump to conclusions. because some people ARE destined for material wealth. and they can indulge in it without guilt. but its important that they be divinely led and supported in their pursuit of it. If you have to kill, steal, cheat or lie for it, God and the ancestors didnt do a thing to make it happen. on the contrary they will use it as a tool to teach you about yourself@!

now do we give into pain, anguish, sorrow? no! never! you should not resign to FEEL unhappy. you just resign that not everything is meant to occur the way you "want" it to occur. and you decide to NOT be frustrated, angry or disappointed. instead you go back and seek the DIVINE path for yourself, your family, your community, your nation, your race, etc etc...

this is not about EMBRACING pain in the emotional sense. its about REJECTING pain in the emotional sense. its about rejecting the emotional "want" to control every facet of Life, when Life in fact is steering the vehicle and not the other way around. Your destiny was decided by you and God in the Afterlife, you must seek that. The sooner you do the more you understand setbacks as tools of growth or as indicators that you "want" what isnt yours.

[Rebel Queen]

amatsyah tel dan, i hope you believe that you and i are agreeing. there is a seeming contradiction in that i say "one must know pain" and "one will find happiness". there is none.

by pain i simply mean that you will not always succeed at every act you set out to accomplish. you will not attract every mate you want. you will not have every job you want. why? because wants are not usually divinely inspired, they are personally and emotionally charged desires. even if you get them you may find yourself OUTSIDE of your spiritual destiny! this is why I always tell people not to covet what you see on TV. everyone that has a million dollars and have millions of fans is SUPPOSED to have those things. some things are an act of disorder, even when they appear positive. because we act out of desire and not out of divine. this is ego when you think you can do whatever you want, however you want. even on the outside those celebrities show signs of depression confusion and frustration! and we say, "how can a woman with $300 million be unhappy?" well, maybe because she was supposed to be a beautician. or a janitor. or a doctor. or may she is supposed to be singing gospel. or preaching black awareness. but just because you can dream it DOESNT mean you SHOULD have it! a lot of "prosperity preachers" are deceiving people into believing this as of late in the black church. what they are really doing is justifying the wealth they want from their ministries. but again, lets not jump to conclusions. because some people ARE destined for material wealth. and they can indulge in it without guilt. but its important that they be divinely led and supported in their pursuit of it. If you have to kill, steal, cheat or lie for it, God and the ancestors didnt do a thing to make it happen. on the contrary they will use it as a tool to teach you about yourself@!

now do we give into pain, anguish, sorrow? no! never! you should not resign to FEEL unhappy. you just resign that not everything is meant to occur the way you "want" it to occur. and you decide to NOT be frustrated, angry or disappointed. instead you go back and seek the DIVINE path for yourself, your family, your community, your nation, your race, etc etc...

this is not about EMBRACING pain in the emotional sense. its about REJECTING pain in the emotional sense. its about rejecting the emotional "want" to control every facet of Life, when Life in fact is steering the vehicle and not the other way around. Your destiny was decided by you and God in the Afterlife, you must seek that. The sooner you do the more you understand setbacks as tools of growth or as indicators that you "want" what isnt yours.

I agree with all that u said...I cant explain as well as u ...so thanks

[IfasehunReincarnated]

Steadfastness Amidst Persecution
by Babalawo Funso Olawaye
PUBLISHED 5/30/2004


Ifa enjoys having his faithful followers steadfast at all times especially in times of crisis and persecution. They should not think that because they are followers of Ifa, who love to perform ebo and do etutu, that no bad things or calamity could happen to them. That is what Ifa says in Òtúrúpõn Õsá:

Ká wô ‘lé sùn

Ká ti’kùn mö

Ohun tÃ* yoo ÿe ni

Kó ni gbÃ*ìkò ÿe ni

DÃ*’á fun ÕrúnmilÃ*

Baba njç láÃ*árÃ*n õtá

Baba nfç’kun sùnráhùn ire gbogbo

Wön nÃ* kÃ* rú’bô

Ó rú’bô

Ko pë, ko jinna

Ç bá ‘ni nÃ* jêbútú ire.



Translation:

If we go inside our rooms [if we hide in our rooms]

We bolt our doors from behind [and lock the doors]

Whatever would happen

Will happen.

This was Ifa’s proclamation to ÕrúnmilÃ*

When Baba dwelled in the midst of enemies

When Baba was seeking all ire

He was asked to perform sacrifice

He complied

Soon after, join us in thanking Olodumare.



There is an adage that says, “Problems do not kill; they make us wiser”. The above Ifa verse teaches us that this world is full of adversaries, people who always pretend to be friends, yet they are not. Ifa likened them to animals. They may be acquaintances, wives, family and neighbors. They are not happy to have us as Ifa worshipers. Hence, they look like friends, but they are enemies. In Ã’túrúpõn Õsá Ifá says:



Ìjin òjòjò ni gan

DÃ*’á fun ÕrúnmilÃ*

Baba njç láÃ*árÃ*n çranko [õtá]

Wön nÃ* kÃ* rú’bô

Ó rú’bô



Translation

ÃŒjin

Ìjin òjòjò ni gan

Cast Ifá divination for ÕrúnmilÃ*



When he dwelt in the midst of animals

He was asked to perform ebo and make a medicine

He complied.



Ifá also advises his faithful followers to look to him always for necessary assistance; no one can do this, except, the person’s Ori and the Oosas. The faithful should not fear, despair, but put their confidence and trust in Ifá who shall advise the faithful accordingly. This is what Ifá says in Ogbè ÃŒwòrì, Ã’túrá-Ã’gúndá and Otura Osa respectively.



Ogbè Ìwòrì

Êyìn lÃ*á wò ÿorò

DÃ*’á fún ÕrúnmilÃ*

NÃ*jö ômô aráyé yÃ*ò ma ko Baba

Lá kò yìn

Wön nÃ* kÃ* rú’bô

Ó rú’bô.



Translation

Let us think deeply [before we act]

Divined for ÕrúnmilÃ*

When people would meet him and abuse [talk about] him to his face

Let us think deeply [before we act]

Divined for ÕrúnmilÃ*

When people would meet him and praise him to his face

He was told to make ebo

He made the ebo.



Story

People always abuse [talk about] ÕrúnmilÃ* whenever they meet him on the road. They called him many unkind names. As soon as ÕrúnmilÃ* got home, he went to his Ifá to ask Ifá what to do. Ifá always tells him not to mind the people, but to face wherever he is going to do, whatever he is doing with the promise that those who are abusing him now, will be coming to praise him. ÕrúnmilÃ* always told his Ifá whenever people abuse, talked about him, ridiculed him thus:



Ifá, bi wön bá mbú mi

Ìwô ni

Çnìkan ò bú mi bëê rÃ*



Meaning

Ifá, it is you who allow people to abuse and ridicule me

No one abuse and ridiculed me like this before.

When things turned better, those people who abuse and ridiculed ÕrúnmilÃ* now began to praise him, honor him and respect him. When ÕrúnmilÃ* goes back home, he goes to his Ifá in a way of praising, saying:



Ifá, bÃ* wön bá yìn mÃ* o

Ìwô ni

Çnìkan ò yìn mi bëê rÃ*



Meaning

Ifá, now the people have turned to praise me

It is because of you

No one ever praise me like this before.



In Òtúrá-Ògúndá

Ã’túra re’rá ò dé ‘rá

Àkò kìÃ* rÃ*jò kó má bõ

Òótö inú yó ni lá jçkù ju ‘rö lô

DÃ*’á fun mo l’árá, mo l’ëbÃ*,

Mi ò l’á lá gb’õrÃ*ndùn,

Ifá l’á b’õrÃ*ndùn çni

OrÃ* çni l’á gb’õrÃ*ndùn çni

ÒòÿÃ* çni l’á gb’õrÃ*ndùn çni



Translation

Òtúra goes to Ira, but it did not get to Ira

Àkò (byrd) never returns from whenever it goes.

Thruthfulness satisfies one than lies

These were Ifá’s proclamations for “I have friends, I have relatives”

But I have no comforter

Ifá is ones comforter

Ori is one’s comforter

ÒòÿÃ* is one’s comforter.



Also, another verse in Òtúrá-Ògúndá says no matter how much abuse or curse and ridicule people might put on an Ifá faithful, Ifá is always ready to turn the bad feelings to good feelings for the devotee. This is also another promise to an Ifá adherent:



A rá

A rá ha

Babaláwo ilé

DÃ*’á fun ilé

Ilé nrìn láÃ*árÃ*n èdìdì

Ilé nrìn láÃ*árÃ*n õtá

A nÃ* ká pa ilé o

EwÃ* ló dÃ*.



Translation

A rá

A rá ha, sage of ilé [house]

When ilé was being bombarded with spells

When ilé dwells in the midst of enemies

When we try to use bad things against ilé

It beautifies it.



Story

In the old days, when there was no paint, people used cow feces on ilé for beautification. At first, it looked rough and smelly. But when it becomes dry, it made the house look beautiful. So whatever evil is done on any Ifá adherent, it shall become goodness for the person. Lastly, Ifá advises his faithful to have patience and to be calculative [use good judgment] in time of crisis. If they do this, they shall overcome the tribulations. This is what Ifá says in Ogbè Ògúndá.



Kánjú kánjú kó ÿeé ÿ’ayé

Sùúrù ló ÿeé lò’gbÃ*

Ta bá dé ibi tutu

Ká simi simi

Ká wo iwájú çni

Ká wo êyìn çni

DÃ*’á fun MákÃ*nánjúolá

ÈyÃ* tÃ* Ã*wôn çgbë rê yóó jù lô

TÃ* òun ó sì gbêyìn wá ju gbogbo

Wôn lô.



Translation

When we get to cool place we should rest [take a moment]

We should look ahead of us [to ponder the future]

We should look back [we should reminisce]

Divined for MákÃ*nánjúolá (Don’t rush-after-money [wealth])

Who had less than his peers [the least fortunate amongst his peers] but had more than them eventually [whose prosperity outshines those of the peers combined].

[IfasehunReincarnated]

Bump it like its Black.

[Venusian]

Happiness/Pain (and whatever lies in between) is all a matter of perception, illusion if you will. Peace lies in the transcendence of emotions and enlightenment lies beyond the realm of Illusion.

As My Love would say, "if all is Spirit then..."

[Kweku_Omowale]

ifa says we have the right to defend ourselves!

when we go thru pain,it makes us stronger,it is not because,people memorize whole texts of books,that makes dem spiritual,i can recall,at one time, when i was living in single dwelling house in brazil,the roof was caving in, and the landlady had thrown me out,i came from work and found my stuff lieing there in the middle of the road,i set down and thought for second," the creator wants me to do something for myself" there i was,homeless,fora day,that pain,made me realize,that i had to move fast and quick and i got up and did something for myself,pain is justa warning signal, that first odu,is so true,problems do exist and they are there to warn us of the circunstances,ebos helps a lots,but our own sacrifices is what gets us thru the day,like baba fasina falade says on his book" it is not only about animal sacrifice also about our own sacrifices as well"

[Kweku_Omowale]

i read to go back the thread and now i can havea more in depth look into the subject.
sometimes, in life,there are challenges,those challenges come for us,in many ways,loss of job,loss of dear ones,loss of material things,all these things tells me that we have to let it go off a lots of things, people in western society like to accumulate material gains,nothing in this physical plane,stays for ever and is for ever,people buy because cars,fancy houses with swimming pools and when they die,their next of kin,will have it all, why? we should ask ourselves.
when we encounter difficulties,we should reflect why they are there and whats the underlying message of the situation?
i dont beat myself over the head again,i have had so many loss and pains in my life,but i have realized in the course of my life,many of the problems were not created by me,the pain,that other people inflicted on me,i know,their day,will come,because,everything in the universe works in circular motion and nothing is linear, one day,that jealous co worker and that boss that fired you,will find his match.
the creator works in nysterous ways,pain is just warning signal,for our emotions,letting us know,that we are after all humans, and after the storm,there is calmess and tranquility,because,once we let it go,of certain things,we reach our ultimate peace

[ras k]

one phrase i keep very close to my heart is this

"acceptance is the gift of life"


ras k

[Im The Truth]

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