On the "Center of Stillness Meditation".
© 2002
>> Regarding CSM, It is very useful to be able to control each sense individually. My biggest problem-sense is kinesthetic. I haven't yet been able to completely shut off the pain response. <<
Ultimately, pain is sensation -- the firing of electrical impulses along nerves, etc. The big difference with pain is that it is our body's own language telling us in no uncertain terms that something is amiss. Since it is our body's own language we MUST hear it. But we are taught to fear our body's own wisdom and to pay it no real heed. This evokes associated emotions that ostensibly have nothing to do with sensation itself. In short, what differentiates "pain" from "sensation" is emotion. It's what we feel about a sensation that makes it painful.
This is why I define seven physical senses instead of just five. How we feel about the sensations we receive is a very significant factor, especially when it comes to mastering the senses. Thus I say in the CSM, "Isolate this one sense, even from thinking", in reference to the emotional tone. That applies to each of the senses. Their isolation is the key to their mastery.
In practical terms, you must delve into your sensation of pain. Really go as deep as possible into it. What you are searching for is *how you feel about it*. Once you become cognizant of the feelings that you associate with this painful sensation you can begin to separate the sensation from the emotion. Of course, you will still need to address those emotions as well as any physical root causation, but this will allow you to convert your pain into mere sensation and then separate yourself from it and vice versa.
My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
04 Jan 2002