Inquiry into Suffering

In the midst of a heavy current of emotions pouring through me yesterday, I found myself meditating on the topic of suffering. A definition arose for me in those moments.

Suffering -- knowing the essence of Beauty and not being able to taste it.
Knowing One Taste, tasting too many flavors.

I was thinking about how my own experience of suffering is totally contingent upon Beauty, Love, and Potential that I know to exist beyond that which I am experiencing. I know a place of rest, contentment, effortlessness, ease... and yet my reality is filled with so many other flavors of contraction, pain, discomfort, agony, longing, desire, exhaustion, confusion, etc. I was thinking that if I didn't know that other state, if I didn't know a more complete sense of fullness than I wouldn't feel suffering in the gap between that highest potential and my current state.

I began to reflect on the 'tasting too many other flavors' part as I was watching all of the things that I was feeling, noticing my desire to not feel or give attention to some of those feelings. I felt over-stimulated and helpless as to how to move my attention beyond the looping of what I was experiencing, expanding to a 'place' beyond my suffering. I began to wonder about all these flavors... how much there is to feel in the universe and how overwhelming it can be to be feeling so many different threads... how so often in those places I yearn for focus, more simplicity, a narrowing of the field... And yet, when there is an overriding sense of peace within me, I cherish all those flavors that I feel.

I would love to hear any feedback on this little reflection on suffering passing through me.

Thanks!