Spiritual Resistance: Dissolving The Inner StruggleBy Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
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From one angle, resistance feels real and undeniable. It colors our experience of suffering and seems to block us from peace. Yet, from a deeper perspective, resistance itself is only a mental construct—something that appears real only because of how we interpret neutral sensations.
In this article, we will explore what resistance means in spirituality, how Buddhist traditions understand it, and what happens when we look at resistance clearly. Along the way, we will uncover the paradoxical nature of resistance: that what we think we are resisting never existed until resistance made it appear real. Finally, we will explore gentle ways of seeing through resistance—not trying to force it away, but noticing its unreality so that it naturally dissolves. Get The FREE Awakening eBook✓ Discover what awakening is like
✓ Learn about the four stages between awakening & enlightenment ✓ Get exercises to progress Sign up below to get our FREE eBook. What Is Resistance in Spirituality?In everyday language, resistance is the sense of inner friction that arises when we don’t want things to be the way they are. It is the “no” we say to life, whether in subtle or loud ways. Spiritually speaking, resistance manifests as aversion, denial, or clinging to control. It is not limited to obvious defiance but includes the quiet tensing of the body when emotions surface, the racing of thoughts when silence arises, or the restlessness that arises in meditation.
From a Buddhist perspective, resistance is one of the root causes of suffering. The Buddha taught that suffering arises from craving and aversion—the mind’s habit of pulling toward what it likes and pushing away what it dislikes. Resistance is that pushing away. It resists pain, discomfort, impermanence, or even the vast openness of awareness itself. Resistance is not inherently “bad.” It is part of the conditioned nature of the human mind. It arises automatically, much like the way the wind blows without asking our permission. To resist resistance only creates more layers of struggle. Instead, the invitation is to recognize resistance as it is—an unconscious movement of mind—and to meet it with curiosity and compassion. Resistance from a Buddhist PerspectiveBuddhism often describes resistance in terms of aversion, one of the “three poisons” of the mind (alongside greed and ignorance). Aversion is the mental and emotional force that tries to avoid pain or unwanted experience. Resistance, then, is a protective strategy, born of habit, that believes it is keeping us safe.
Yet paradoxically, resistance creates the very suffering it tries to avoid. For example, when sadness arises, resistance may attempt to suppress or deny it. But this very suppression intensifies the sense of heaviness. The same happens with fear, anger, or even physical pain—the mind’s resistance amplifies the discomfort. The Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness point us toward a different response. Instead of pushing away discomfort, we can observe it with awareness. When resistance arises, we notice its qualities: tightness, contraction, heat, or restlessness. We see that these are not enemies but passing phenomena. By paying attention, we begin to disentangle awareness from resistance, loosening its grip. Resistance from a Nondual PerspectiveWhile Buddhism helps us recognize resistance as aversion and offers practical ways of observing it, the nondual perspective goes even further. Nonduality invites us to question whether resistance itself is real in the first place.
From this perspective, resistance isn’t resisting anything solid. Resistance thinks it is pushing away pain, fear, or anxiety, but in truth, resistance is the creator of these experiences. Without resistance, sensations remain as they are—neutral, simple movements of energy in the body. A vibration in the chest or a tightening in the stomach only becomes “fear” when the mind resists it, labels it, and interprets it as dangerous. Here lies the paradox: resistance gives birth to the very struggles it claims to resist. The things it pushes against—fear, discomfort, suffering—do not exist independently of resistance. They arise together. Ultimately, even resistance itself is not real. It is only a concept, a subtle collection of thoughts labeling bodily sensations. When this labeling process is seen through, resistance fades on its own. There is nothing to resist because there was never anything real being resisted. In this recognition, suffering naturally dissolves. Why Resistance Feels So RealIf resistance is not real, why does it feel so convincing? The answer lies in the body and the mind’s interpretation of sensations. Sensations themselves—heat, tension, tingling, or contraction—are neutral. They are neither pleasant nor unpleasant until the mind interprets them. The mind, however, has learned to resist certain sensations, associating them with fear or pain. This unconscious pattern makes resistance feel inevitable, even overwhelming.
The key insight is that this process is not under our conscious control. We cannot simply decide to stop resisting, just as we cannot command the wind to stop blowing. Resistance arises automatically, conditioned by countless past experiences. Realizing this allows us to soften self-judgment. We don’t need to fight resistance, shame ourselves for it, or force it to disappear. Instead, we can turn our attention toward seeing its nature more clearly. Gentle Tips for Seeing Through ResistanceBecause resistance is not something we control, spiritual practice does not ask us to eradicate it. Instead, we are invited to see through it—to notice its empty nature so it dissolves on its own. Here are a few gentle ways to approach this:
1. Recognize resistance as a movement of mind The first step is simply noticing when resistance is present. This might appear as physical tension, restless thoughts, or emotional heaviness. Instead of fighting it, acknowledge it with awareness: “Ah, resistance is here.” 2. Observe sensations without labels Shift your focus from the story about resistance to the raw sensations in the body. What is present? Tightness, warmth, contraction, pressure? See how these sensations, without mental labels, are neutral. They are just passing energies. 3. Allow resistance to be exactly as it is Paradoxically, the more we allow resistance, the less power it holds. Instead of trying to stop resistance, give it space. Say to yourself, “It’s okay for this resistance to be here.” This opens the door for it to dissolve naturally. 4. Notice the paradox Remember the insight that resistance creates the very struggle it seems to fight. When you see that resistance is not pushing against anything real, its foundation begins to crumble. 5. Rest as everythingness From the nondual perspective, resistance is only a passing cloud in the vast sky of All That Is. Rest in the recognition that you are not resistance, nor the sensations it labels.
Worksheet: Seeing Through Resistance
Use this worksheet to notice when resistance arises and to practice seeing through it. Write down your experiences and reflections in the spaces provided.
The Dissolving of Resistance and the End of SufferingOver time, as resistance is seen for what it is—a concept without solidity—it loses its power. This doesn’t mean we never experience resistance again. Rather, resistance may still arise, but it is recognized as empty and harmless. Without identifying with it, we no longer suffer in the same way.
Awakening is not about eliminating resistance but about recognizing its unreal nature. We see that resistance was only ever a mirage—an illusion created by thought and belief. With this recognition, suffering begins to fade, not because we have conquered resistance, but because we see through the illusion that it was ever real. Common Examples of Things We ResistResistance is often subtle, but it shows up in many everyday experiences. By identifying these moments, we can begin to recognize resistance in real time and see through its illusions. Here are some common examples:
Resisting Physical Discomfort When the body aches, tightens, or feels fatigued, the mind often reacts with frustration: “I can’t stand this pain” or “I need this feeling to go away.” Yet the discomfort itself is only a cluster of sensations—tingling, pressure, heat, or contraction. It is resistance that turns these sensations from mild to extreme and adds suffering on top of them. By gently observing the raw sensations without labeling them, we see that they rise, shift, and dissolve naturally. Resisting Emotions Emotions like sadness, fear, or anger often trigger resistance. We push them away, suppress them, or distract ourselves to avoid feeling them. But resistance does not make the emotion disappear; instead, it strengthens it. When we look directly at an emotion, we discover it is not as solid as it seemed—it is made up of fleeting sensations in the body and thoughts in the mind. By seeing emotions clearly, we notice they are temporary waves of energy, not enemies to fight. Resisting Change Life is constantly shifting—jobs evolve, relationships transform, bodies age. Resistance arises when we cling to what was or demand that life stay the same. Yet change itself is not a problem; it is the natural flow of existence. What hurts is our resistance to impermanence. Seeing this clearly allows us to align with the flow of life instead of fighting against it. Resisting Silence and Stillness Many people notice resistance arise when they sit quietly to meditate. The mind races, the body fidgets, and a sense of unease fills the stillness. Resistance tells us, “I should be doing something,” or “This silence is uncomfortable.” But when we simply observe the restlessness itself—tightening in the chest, buzzing thoughts, tingling energy—it loses its grip. Silence reveals itself as fine rather than threatening. Resisting “What Is” At its core, resistance is the refusal to accept reality in this moment. Whether it is an emotion, a thought, or a circumstance, resistance insists it should be different. Yet when we pause and see clearly, we realize that “what is” already is. It cannot be any other way right now. By resting in this recognition, resistance begins to soften, and contentment naturally arises. Final Thoughts on ResistanceSpiritual resistance is one of the most subtle and paradoxical forces on the path of awakening. From a Buddhist perspective, it is aversion—a habit of mind that creates suffering by pushing against experience. From a nondual perspective, resistance itself is not real; it is only a concept built upon the labeling of neutral sensations.
We may not be able to stop resistance any more than we can stop the wind, but we can learn to see through it. By meeting resistance with awareness, observing sensations without labels, and resting in the sensations of the moment, resistance naturally dissolves. What remains is openness and freedom—the effortless recognition that nothing was ever truly being resisted. |
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