Even in the face of accidents, there is choice.

Once, after I had spoken about choices, a man asked about his friend who survived a horrific accident. To save the friend’s life, the doctors had to amputate her legs.

He asked, where was her choice? The accident was just that, an accident. It was followed by more suffering—the myriad emotions and thoughts that had to be assailing her every moment. Perhaps anger at the driver of the other car. Perhaps anger at herself for not having done something differently. Perhaps an anguished Why me? or If only!

I told him that at some point, when her shock and initial reactions ease, when she gradually stops reacting numbly to her grief, this friend will, hopefully, come to realize that she has choices. 

One choice involves holding on to the suffering, which could go on for years. The other involves a realization that causality is at play here. And asking “How can I move forward from here?”

Pain is an integral part of life here in samsara; suffering our reaction to it.  

Choice determines how long and deeply we will suffer from our pain.