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Pain

Pain is a universal human experience addressed across spiritual traditions. Many traditions converge on the idea that pain can be a catalyst for growth and transformation. They diverge, however, in their perspectives on the nature and purpose of pain.

3,790 quotes

Across traditions

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Quotes

One who has withdrawn all their senses into the Self, and who has not caused pain to any creature except as permitted by the scriptures, conducts themselves in this way throughout their life. They reach the World of Brahman after death and do not return.
Vedic Sages
HinduTeachingAttainmentOnenessSanskrit
The Upanishads, p. 319
You should stick to your duty and gain the reward that comes from hard work and pain.
Valmiki
HinduTeachingAttainmentActionSanskrit
Ramayana of Valmiki, p. 1080
The person who possesses such a soul can never be defeated by sorrow or pain. They are as pure as the gods, high-minded, and wise, with no secrets hidden from them.
Valmiki
HinduTeachingGriefMindSanskrit
Ramayana of Valmiki, p. 1078
If someone truly lives in God's will, they find joy in all pain and simplicity in all complexity; even the torments of hell would be a joy to them.
Meister Eckhart
ChristianTeachingJoyDivine Will
Meister Eckhart Sermons, p. 18
Dharma is that which leads to the attainment of the highest good and the cessation of pain, known as Moksha.
Swami Sivananda
HinduScriptureAttainmentKnowledge
All About Hinduism, p. 117
Kunti Devi said, "Oh Lord Krishna, let me always remember you. Give me pain always, for I may forget you if I experience pleasure."
Kunti Devi
HinduTeachingGodPain
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 12
He has no fear or desire and rises above both pain and pleasure. He is always content and experiences divine bliss and lasting peace.
Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji
UniversalTeachingAbiding PeaceContentment
Flash Back, p. 40
He is also emancipated who looks upon life and death, pleasure and pain, gain and loss, and agreeable and disagreeable things with an equal mind.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingAttainmentEqualitySanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5507
The law of Karma is unyielding, unrelenting, and unchangeable. The pain you cause to another will come back to you, and the happiness you spread to another will return to you, increasing your happiness.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingHappinessKarma
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 115
It subdues all harmful influences and multiplies virtuous qualities. It destroys the fruits of evil deeds and ensures the fulfilment of righteous ones.
HinduScriptureOnenessActionSanskrit
Guru Gita 143
Ananda is a state of supreme bliss, the joy of pure conscious existence and energy, as opposed to a life controlled by external sensations and emotions, which are subject to the whims of life and matter, and their positive and negative reactions, such as joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain.
Vedic Sages
HinduTeachingGriefJoy
The Upanishads — Texts, Translations and Commentaries, p. 41
May the gracious Lord, whose name is the unfailing remedy for the disease of birth and death and alleviates the three kinds of terrible pain, remain propitious to me and you.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingBenevolenceKindnessSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Uttar Kand Part 2 (verses 1023–1101), p. 71
Because pride is the root of the cycle of birth and death, and it is the cause of all types of pain and every form of sorrow.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingEgoGriefSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Uttar Kand Part 2 (verses 1023–1101), p. 6
They are the source of kindness and other virtues. They feel sad when they see others in distress and are happy when they see others happy. They are calm, and they don't consider anyone as their enemy. They are free from pride and passion, and they have control over greed, anger, joy, and fear. They are gentle and compassionate towards those in distress, and they have pure devotion to me in their thoughts, words, and actions. They show respect to everyone and are humble themselves. I love such people as I love my own life. They have no personal interests, but they are dedicated to my name and are full of peace, calmness, humility, and good humor.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingBenevolenceDevotionSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Uttar Kand Part 1 (verses 949–1022), p. 46
"Now everything is fine with me because the merciful Lord of Kosala has blessed me with His presence, understanding the distress of His servant, and has taken my hand just when I was drowning in the ocean of despair."
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingKnowledgeRighteousnessSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Uttar Kand Part 1 (verses 949–1022), p. 9
The pain of being separated from You is like a fire, and my sighs are like a strong wind that fuels it. My body is like a pile of cotton that would be instantly consumed by the flames.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingBodyPainSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Sundar Kand (verses 745–804), p. 32
A true friend should guide their companion away from wrong paths and towards virtuous ones, highlight their good qualities, and overlook their flaws. They should selflessly give and take, serve their friend's interests, and love them even more when they are in distress.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingAltruismGuruSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Kishkindha Kand (verses 711–744), p. 10
One would incur great sin by simply seeing those who are unmoved by a friend's distress.
Tulsidas
HinduTeachingOnenessSinSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Kishkindha Kand (verses 711–744), p. 9
Water as sweet as nectar flowed from the springs, and soft, cool, and fragrant breezes soothed every pain of the mind and body.
Tulsidas
HinduPoetryMindBodySanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Ayodhya Kand Part 5 (verses 564–600), p. 10
He was rotating his bow and arrow between his lotus hands, and with just one smile, he could dispel the anguish of one's soul.
Tulsidas
HinduPoetryHumilityOnenessSanskrit
Ramcharitmanas — Ayodhya Kand Part 5 (verses 564–600), p. 1