Beelzebubs tales

[Laurelayn]

I am just finishing book 1. Much of what I have read about the human condition in this book has made me feel as if there is no hope for humanity, that the character is right and the "terror-of-the-situation" is where we are stuck (or maybe I am just stuck there) with no chance of faith love or hope of conscience ever entering my being because of who and what and where I am at this time in my life.
I am trying to understand what is meant by intentional suffering.
I grew up in a very abusive household but for some reason, even as a small child, I always knew that the things I experienced at the hands of others wasn't right, even though I was constantly told that everything was fine.
in the "work" we are supposed to be mindful of and strive to look objectively at our pasts and where certain reactions/attitudes that have been ingrained in our personality/ego arose from, is that in the right direction?
is that part of what is intentional suffering? that and letting oneself actually look at the things that humans inflict upon one another and SEEING and KNOWING that there is something very wrong here on this planet?
I really like the book so far,as disturbing it is, I have always had something in me that has questioned the general lack of sanity in the people around me. Gurdjieffs words seem to confirm my suspicions and paint an even bleaker picture than I could have imagined on my own.
Reading secret history and here on the forum and attempting to "work" on myself has caused me to become a very quiet person for about the last year, hence my low post count. I just feel like I'm in observer mode and don't have much to say. I have become this way in my whole life. I work very hard, meaning I have a very physically strenuous job and am also very physical at home- gardening, building, taking care of animals.
I guess I'm attempting to apologize for non participation. There is just so much to get done constantly and it never ends. I'll try harder.

 

[anart]

It might help, just a little, to understand that the fact that you can see this - that you can glimpse the horror of the situation - means that you are capable of seeing even more. It takes time, and it does take conscious suffering (which it sounds like you have started already) - but it does happen. Don't worry about your lack of posts to this point - just post when you can, as you discover more, as you have questions, as you have anything to add to what others are discussing. This helps you and it helps others.

 

[Laurelayn]

thank you anart

 

[kenlee]

Hi Laurelayn, there an excerpt from Beelzebub on intentional suffering that I think really gets to the essence of what it is: (I bolded the part of the excerpt below):

From the Glossary:
http://glossary.cassiopaea.com/glossary.php?id=731&lsel=S

A more thorough description of it and how it's significance applies to the Work is given in Ouspensky's book 'In Search Of The Miraculous':

From Beelzebub's Tales:

"He [Buddha] then, among other things, told them very definitely the following: "'One of the best means of rendering ineffective the predisposition present in your nature of the crystallization of the consequences of the properties of the organ Kundabuffer is "intentional-suffering"; the greatest intentional suffering can be obtained in your presences if you compel yourselves to be able to endure the "displeasing-manifestations-of-others-towards-yourselves."'

 

[Laurelayn]

Hi Laurelayn, there an excerpt from Beelzebub on intentional suffering that I think really gets to the essence of what it is: (I bolded the part of the excerpt below):

From the Glossary:
http://glossary.cassiopaea.com/glossary.php?id=731&lsel=S

A more thorough description of it and how it's significance applies to the Work is given in Ouspensky's book 'In Search Of The Miraculous':

From Beelzebub's Tales:

"He [Buddha] then, among other things, told them very definitely the following: "'One of the best means of rendering ineffective the predisposition present in your nature of the crystallization of the consequences of the properties of the organ Kundabuffer is "intentional-suffering"; the greatest intentional suffering can be obtained in your presences if you compel yourselves to be able to endure the "displeasing-manifestations-of-others-towards-yourselves."'

Would compelling myself to endure the "displeasing-manifestations-of-others-towards-yourselves." include abuse sufferred as a child and young adult? I no longer have contact with my abusive family members but I did until just a few years ago, enduring their abrasiveness and still trying to be encouraging some of the time, or could that just be a victim mindset on my part? it takes a lot of thought and effort to sort every little piece of this out. I am making a conscious effort to take this in carefully and slowly and in order. It just feels like the way I should read and think this through. Thank you for your time I will probably continue to ask questions.

Edit=Quote

 

[anart]

Would compelling myself to endure the "displeasing-manifestations-of-others-towards-yourselves." include abuse sufferred as a child and young adult? I no longer have contact with my abusive family members but I did until just a few years ago, enduring their abrasiveness and still trying to be encouraging some of the time, or could that just be a victim mindset on my part?

Usually in situations like this, it's simply in your best interests to have no contact. You must get to a place where you're strong enough to deal with the damage done. Enduring the "displeasing-manifestations-of-others-towards-yourselves" is not the same thing as exposing yourself to the poison of an abusive family.

it takes a lot of thought and effort to sort every little piece of this out. I am making a conscious effort to take this in carefully and slowly and in order. It just feels like the way I should read and think this through. Thank you for your time I will probably continue to ask questions.

It does take a lot of time. Just remember that wounds do heal once we learn to really begin to take care of ourselves - that takes time too. ;)