Interview on The End of Negative Suffering - An iconic series of Lectures Shk Khalil Jaffer

In this episode of Islam in Focus, Sajjad Saeed interviews Brother Khalil about "The End of Negative Suffering." Khalil defines negative suffering as anything that disturbs inner peace, like stress or anxiety, contrasting it with conscious suffering where one maintains peace despite inevitable pain. He attributes the root cause to a false sense of self (ego) developed in infancy and a heart distracted from God, leading to a self-will opposing God's will. Khalil suggests ending negative suffering by recognizing one's true self through dis-identification with the mind and living in the present moment, not dwelling on past bitterness or future worries. He clarifies that living in the now doesn't mean avoiding memories or future plans but preventing them from causing negative thoughts. Khalil advises exploring the heart as a source of realization and focusing on self-discovery before helping others, as true peace comes from knowing oneself and being heart-centered rather than mind-centered.