Pain in the Knees Chronicles #6
Relate, Relieve, Restore
I share how I have been making the “pain in my knees” an “object” of my meditation.
“Knee pain” can become an “object of meditation” similar to “the breath,” For example, while
meditating, when my mind wanders, I bring my attention back to my “pains in my knees.” Take
as an example, “pain in my left knee.”
Location: Where is “pain” located in my knee? Can I “pinpoint” its location? Center? Periphery?
Can I locate what’s outside its periphery? What happens when I sense the center, periphery, and
outside the periphery at one time?
As my mind wanders, I bring it back to “pain in my knee,” as an “orb of sensation.”
Movement: Is “the pain” still or stable? “Sharp?” How does it arise? Unfold? Where does it go?
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Qualities: What are the “tactile sensations” associated with descriptors like “sharp” or “aching?”
What type of vibrations are there? What levels of intensity/vibration are there? I drop the
descriptors and investigate the underlying tactile sensations in the body.
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Stories: What stories (conversations) arise in my mind about the “pain” – the “orb of sensation.”
Fear? Dread? Disappointment? Yearning for something different?
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Working with Opposites: I sense the presence of pain and its stories, and then I sense the time when there was no pain and what the stories were then. I go back and forth several times, sensing, “Pain/No-Pain.” Then I sense the presence and absence of pain simultaneously. I watch the “distinction” between pain and no pain drop away.
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Insight 1: “Orbs of sensation” combined with my stories about them provide me with insight into
my relationship with “pain in my knee.”
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Insight 2: “Objective Pain” is “autonomic.” It’s part of our evolutionary development. It is
“involuntary, but necessary information.” It’s in my body.
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Insight 3: “Subjective Pain” is “voluntary information.” It’s the mind. How one relates to
“objective pain” is a “choice.”
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Insight 4: I gain insight into how I relate to many, if not all, life’s “pains.”
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Real Freedom to Choose: At each moment, I get to choose how I can respond based on how I
apply internal and external scientific principles (Western and Non-western.)
After three months of internal and external exploration and of combining the subjective and
object sciences, yesterday I had my first cortisone injections. One in my left knee; one in my
right.
My plan is to get an immediate reduction in inflammation, and then engage actively and
strategically into restorative practices. Relate, Relieve & Restore.
For example, later in the day after my injections, I had my fifth PEMF session. I have been
engaging in other restorative practices — acupuncture, cryotherapy, physical therapy.
“Pain” is a difficult “orb of sensation” that modifies behavior. It can keep one from doing what
(i) they need to be doing, (ii) like to be doing, and want to be doing. However, while “Pain
Happens!”, we get to choose our relationship to it.
My challenge: Will I adopt an anti-anti-inflammation lifestyle, or not?
My mind wanders. I bring it back.
Meditation: A Gateway to Knowledge, Being and Action
About the Author
