In this episode, Jamie and Noah discuss the nature of suffering as understood by the nondual, Buddhist path and the Christian alchemical metaphor. They talk about how suffering really just arises from how we see the world and how our mind interprets what we see.  Lastly, they discuss how to relieve suffering through a process of self-inquiry.  

0:00 Intro and a caveat on acute suffering 

4:50 Buddhism: 4 Noble Truths 

12:31 Suffering is a result from an ego perspective 

15:53 Map of Jamie’s suffering 

19:15 The nature of duality  

29:04 Seeking perpetuates suffering, and is a part of alleviating it 

36:07 The Hero’s journey and its role in alleviating suffering 

40:11 Suffering is in the stories we create about who we are 

42:49 How to dis-identify with pain so you suffer less 

45:53 Why does God “allow” suffering? 

53:15 Suffering ends when the stories about who other people are ends 

58:44 Alchemical understanding of suffering 

1:06:34 The Temperance card and sword-making metaphor 

1:09:22 All suffering originates in a loss of perspective of the truth 

1:10:32 Tapas and puja for moving beyond egoic perspective (Hindu perspective) 

1:14:10 Virtuous suffering- crucifixion is not the end 

1:18:40 Beliefs that increase suffering: #1 I am my body 

1:20:53 Bad things are punishments, good things are earned/are rewards 

1:22:18 Magical Stories (twin flames) 

1:29:14 Self-reliance or attachment to one person meeting all your needs 

1:31:01 Life is unfair or hard 

1:39:59 The kingdom of Heaven is within