What is the spiritual nature of pain? (mainly physical pain, not emotional pain)
What is the role of pain in the spiritual path?
I see 2 main views:
>pain is beneficial (alchemically)
i.e. pain purges impurity (weakness/stress/wandering mind, even the ego itself)
an example of this is the pain involved in stretching and meditative sitting (which can end up feeling like you're sitting in a fire and 10 minutes is an eternity).
>Gurdjieff: One needs fire. Without fire, there will never be anything. This fire is suffering, voluntary suffering, without which it is impossible to create anything.

>pain is unnecessary
(i.e. spiritual practice doesn't need to be painful)
for example Neville Goddard saying
>*Do not let anyone tell you that you must struggle and suffer. You need not struggle for the realization of your desire.*

So is the path to: stretch so hard you want to die, sit in yogic postures until you pass out with pain, maybe do other exercises to the limits...
using that "fire" ?
or should you relax, ignore special postures, get comfy in a chair or lying in bed, and just use your imagination..., adjusting when needed?
i.e. hardcore vs comfy paths.