Suffering and the Human Terroir
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2017
Abstract
Fully embracing one's embodied suffering, rather than denying it or mentally explaining it away, can open an individual to a broader sense of interbeing, to the ability to endure, survive, and move through pain and toward a deeper sense of compassion, peace, joy, and liberation. The self benefits from exploring interbeing using an environmental metaphor to consider the human body: the body as terroir. Terroir is analogous to the specific microclimate and natural environment in which quality wine is produced. Appreciation of oneself as a unique mobile terroir can reveal estranged aspects of the host/guest (ghos-ti) relationship of interbeing within the individual body/self. Perhaps this is what those who practice interbeing in the real world have come to understand.
Recommended Citation
Muller, Rick, "Suffering and the Human Terroir" (2017). Regis University Faculty Publications (comprehensive list). 391.
https://epublications.regis.edu/facultypubs/391