Pain/Need Ratio

Pain is the first noble truth. Like the poor it is always with us. The key is to pay attention to the relationship of need to pain. As discussed in greater detail elsewhere (See Pain and Need), if you can hold steady in the face of pain without falling into need, the pain will transform and you will discover your power. This is the gold from the alchemy of your practice.

Pain/Need Ratio: Monitoring the pain/need ratio is a critical task because if you can hold steady despite the pain you will be able to move through whatever comes your way.

Therefore, record five times this week you found yourself despairing, checked the pain/need ratio and kept it above 1.