IMS Retreat 2012 Q&A Group D No.1 (12:48-14:00)
Yogi: I can be aware of what is happening, but it is very hard to have to suffer the experiences.
Sayadaw: Remember that the purpose of being mindful is not to be relieved of the pain. It is to become able to observe.
Pain is magnified by our reaction towards it. So, there are some bodily sensations that are not normal and if we have some aversion towards it, it’ll appear worse. If we have some pain, and you resist it (you don’t want it), it feels much worse than it is.
When you are tired, when the resistance is down, the pain becomes low level.