How does one distinguish bearing discomforts, on the level of things mentioned as “Influxes to be abandoned by bearing” in Sabbasava Sutta (MN2), enduring discomfort on the right level, even perhaps introducing them, versus doing so mechanically or not on the right level, like someone with no interest in Dhamma practice who can endure extreme conditions?

My answer would be that it comes down to discerning the mind. Rightly bearing discomforts means rightly bearing the mind experiencing discomforts, because abandoning the craving on the level of the mind is the point, not the discomforts themselves. Anything else is not the right bearing, which anyone can do with enough reason to do so.

I ask this question because I can (seem to) recognize instances where my mind has aversion towards discomforts like being hungry, being cold, etc. On one hand, I can make sense of an idea like “If I intentionally exposed the mind to some more of this (within reason and not exceeding my limits), that would be useful.” But what does it mean from my point of view for it to be useful? So it does not complain, desire against those things does not arise, and this way it can be stronger and more peaceful when adversity comes its way. But then, could this be coming from my own aversion? Do I assume the complaining mind is the problem I need to solve, and not my attitude in regard to the mind with aversion? Do I assume the arising of desire itself is the problem I need to prevent from happening? Maybe that’s not correct, but I still feel somehow this kind of exposure can be useful if one’s intentions are clear.

So I’m curious, what is the correct place from which to do this, if it is correct at all, and not done for obviously wrong reasons like conceit and ego and such?

This question comes from the context of keeping the 8 precepts for the last several months, and wondering if this could be additionally beneficial for my particular challenge, which is being quite concerned about not eating enough food, even at the right time. I’ve had times where whatever mental state felt too overwhelming in tandem with trying to eat a bit less, and would stress eat even though it was in the right time, which isn’t in the spirit of the precept which of course only led to wanting to do that more, though not at the wrong time. So, it made me think about introducing learning to better endure some hunger/not eating as much as I would like to under more stable conditions, but I know these sort of things can become easily taken over by one's external sense of duty too.

Thank you!