Sahil, thank you for this thoughtful and beautifully written piece. I really appreciate the depth of insight you’ve brought to such a universal topic. One thing that particularly stood out to me is how your article takes it as a given that suffering is an inherent part of the human condition—a foundation that sets the stage for everything else you explore. It’s a refreshing perspective in a world that often seems desperate to deny or escape that reality.
I love how you’ve unpacked the paradox of fixing and facing suffering, especially with the nod to Vipassana as a way to transform our relationship with pain. Building on that, I’d venture to suggest something I’ve written about myself: that approaching suffering not just as something to endure, but as a means of growth, can actually cultivate a sense of contentment—not merely despite the suffering, but because of it. There’s a strange alchemy in embracing hardship as a catalyst for becoming more fully human.
And I think religious people might have it even easier here. For those with faith, no suffering is truly pointless—it’s woven into a larger tapestry of meaning, whether as redemption, refinement, or a mystery to be trusted. That belief can lighten the load in a way that’s hard to replicate without it. Anyway, just some thoughts your piece sparked—thanks again for sharing such a rich reflection!
Thanks for the note, Lionel. I think there's a word for what you're saying: post-traumatic growth. And I fully agree with the idea of it being a catalyst for transformation.
On the point of religion, that's exactly what Nietzsche said- the "mysterious machinery of salvation" ensured that no suffering *felt* pointless
Sahil, thank you for this thoughtful and beautifully written piece. I really appreciate the depth of insight you’ve brought to such a universal topic. One thing that particularly stood out to me is how your article takes it as a given that suffering is an inherent part of the human condition—a foundation that sets the stage for everything else you explore. It’s a refreshing perspective in a world that often seems desperate to deny or escape that reality.
I love how you’ve unpacked the paradox of fixing and facing suffering, especially with the nod to Vipassana as a way to transform our relationship with pain. Building on that, I’d venture to suggest something I’ve written about myself: that approaching suffering not just as something to endure, but as a means of growth, can actually cultivate a sense of contentment—not merely despite the suffering, but because of it. There’s a strange alchemy in embracing hardship as a catalyst for becoming more fully human.
And I think religious people might have it even easier here. For those with faith, no suffering is truly pointless—it’s woven into a larger tapestry of meaning, whether as redemption, refinement, or a mystery to be trusted. That belief can lighten the load in a way that’s hard to replicate without it. Anyway, just some thoughts your piece sparked—thanks again for sharing such a rich reflection!
Thanks for the note, Lionel. I think there's a word for what you're saying: post-traumatic growth. And I fully agree with the idea of it being a catalyst for transformation.
On the point of religion, that's exactly what Nietzsche said- the "mysterious machinery of salvation" ensured that no suffering *felt* pointless