“All life is suffering.” –The first Buddhist Noble Truth.

“Life is Difficult.

This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.  It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it.  Once we truly see that life is difficult – once we truly understand and accept it – then life is no longer difficult.  Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.” – The Road Less Travelled

We cannot avoid events in our life that may lead to suffering. We can moderate their effect, but not eliminate them. We will witness unhappy circumstance, dissatisfaction, injustice, sickness and death – falling on others and ourselves.

Nothing indemnifies us against the potential for suffering.

It’s how we bear it that determines the degree of our equanimity.

It’s how we attempt to avoid it that determines the degree of our neurosis.

It’s our formula for avoiding responsibility for that which we cause, by apportioning metaphysical blame for it, that determines the degree of our religiosity or spurious, but fast-held, philosophical platitudes.

What greater motivators are there to inflict suffering than greed and god?

It is very interesting to see how different people handle their suffering.
It's interesting to watch some people puff up their own (well-concealed) personal hell or grievances into an "objective" position.
A hell for some people can be another's paradise.

Is suffering that is pleasurable (bittersweet) still suffering?

life is made up of good times filling in the gaps between the bad times ....

Buddhism - The Four Noble Truths

   1. TO LIVE, IS TO SUFFER
   2. Suffering arises from attachment [to our desires]
   3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
   4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path


#1 hits ya where it hurts!

Doesn't it?
Eh?        ;D




It is futile to try to avoid, what we cannot avoid.





"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
    - Frank Herbert, 'Dune'

addendum;

"Life's a bitch,......and then, you die."         

;D

Annie Anthrax wrote on May 6^th, 2012 at 2:35pm:

Is suffering that is pleasurable (bittersweet) still suffering?

If being separated from its object causes grief, then it is.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 6^th, 2012 at 2:21pm:

A hell for some people can be another's paradise.

A sunset or metaphorical oblivion?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f4/The_Scream.jpg/220px-The_Scream.jpg

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 6^th, 2012 at 2:21pm:

It is very interesting to see how different people handle their suffering. It's interesting to watch some people puff up their own (well-concealed) personal hell or grievances into an "objective" position. A hell for some people can be another's paradise.

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
(Compare with: The Entropy of the universe increases with time. Only energy input can decrease Entropy _^locally. )
                            
Suffering is voluntary. Nobody can hurt you unless you personally agree to it.

Quote:

Nobody can hurt you unless you personally agree to it.

How does that work?

Isn't pain there initially no matter how you choose to deal with it?

muso wrote on May 7^th, 2012 at 11:04am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 6th, 2012 at 2:21pm: It is very interesting to see how different people handle their suffering. It's interesting to watch some people puff up their own (well-concealed) personal hell or grievances into an "objective" position. A hell for some people can be another's paradise. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. Suffering is voluntary. Nobody can hurt you unless you personally agree to it.

I am not so sure about that. It seems to occur on an unconscious level where we have no choice in the matter. But, I agree that over time one can learn to overcome and handle suffering. It takes a special kind of self-discipline. I would also add that it makes a huge difference in how we interpret suffering. For example, Christianity has inserted a whole mystical and metaphysical dimension in to suffering. This is very unhelpful as it gives its origins to something mysterious and out of our control, to something that we can never atone for. Additionally, it doesn't give us any practical solutions on how to overcome it. I think the Buddhists are on the right track, similarly with artists. Artists usually go through immense personal suffering but have the genius and will to sublimate this into something creative. Don't get me started on those who believe we can have political solutions to suffering.

Annie Anthrax wrote on May 7^th, 2012 at 11:13am:

Quote: Nobody can hurt you unless you personally agree to it. How does that work? Isn't pain there initially no matter how you choose to deal with it?

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

muso wrote on May 7^th, 2012 at 11:04am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 6th, 2012 at 2:21pm: It is very interesting to see how different people handle their suffering. It's interesting to watch some people puff up their own (well-concealed) personal hell or grievances into an "objective" position. A hell for some people can be another's paradise. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. (Compare with: The Entropy of the universe increases with time. Only energy input can decrease Entropy ^locally. )                              Suffering is voluntary. Nobody can hurt you unless you personally agree to it.

From my own perspective, happiness is an attitude, which i can choose.

Rather than happiness being an emotion which i seek, in the world.

When i feel happiness, >> i << produce that feeling.



I can't change the world, but i can change me,  .....that is, i can change how i feel.

I am not a 'victim' [.....of this world].

I am the author of my own circumstances [....at least to a certain extent].

"Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive." - Martin Luther King Jr

A profound credo that requires no great leap across the abyss of doubt to discern its power to rationalise unjustified hardship and generate meaning from otherwise inexplicable evil.

Yadda wrote on May 7^th, 2012 at 12:37pm:

muso wrote on May 7th, 2012 at 11:04am: Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 6th, 2012 at 2:21pm: It is very interesting to see how different people handle their suffering. It's interesting to watch some people puff up their own (well-concealed) personal hell or grievances into an "objective" position. A hell for some people can be another's paradise. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. (Compare with: The Entropy of the universe increases with time. Only energy input can decrease Entropy ^locally. )                              Suffering is voluntary. Nobody can hurt you unless you personally agree to it. From my own perspective, happiness is an attitude, which i can choose. Rather than happiness being an emotion which i seek, in the world. When i feel happiness, >> i << produce that feeling. I can't change the world, but i can change me,  .....that is, i can change how i feel. I am not a 'victim' [.....of this world]. I am the author of my own circumstances [....at least to a certain extent].

Some of the most progressive posts, totally support the ideal. I have from a young age always believed that i own what happens in my life, good or bad. If i own it no matter what then i can do something about it. It is not someone else's fault nor is blame attributable. Life is so much happier that way and i am satisfied with my lot, looking to improve myself but proud of what i have achieved.

First world affirmations are usually those imbued with the notion that the affirmer has absolute control over destiny... Its genesis is an amalgam of existentialism, self-serving mysticism and a sense of entitlement to cosmic good luck.

The idea that we are thrown into the world and largely at its mercy has little or no place among the materially affluent who cannot imagine a cosmos that does not bend to their will.

NorthOfNorth wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 8:31am:

First world affirmations are usually those imbued with the notion that the affirmer has absolute control over destiny... Its genesis is an amalgam of existentialism, self-serving mysticism and a sense of entitlement to cosmic good luck. The idea that we are thrown into the world and largely at its mercy has little or no place among the materially affluent who cannot imagine a cosmos that does not bend to their will.

The truth lies somewhere in between those two extremes.

Do you believe people are able to overcome (some) of their problems?

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 12:32pm:

NorthOfNorth wrote on May 21st, 2012 at 8:31am: First world affirmations are usually those imbued with the notion that the affirmer has absolute control over destiny... Its genesis is an amalgam of existentialism, self-serving mysticism and a sense of entitlement to cosmic good luck. The idea that we are thrown into the world and largely at its mercy has little or no place among the materially affluent who cannot imagine a cosmos that does not bend to their will. The truth lies somewhere in between those two extremes. Do you believe people are able to overcome (some) of their problems?

Yes, but few bother thinking out where the buses don't run about the kinds of problems that can be overcome - including those resulting from a character flaw - What features in the affirmations of those who cannot imagine a cosmos that does not bend to their will, is a god that seems obsessed with the affirmer's affluence or a cosmos that has the affirmer in mind and exists in part to assure them wealth and success.

"My right to riches" - The manifesto of the first world self-absorbed.

Yes, well, I agree that too many people have a sense of entitlement when it comes to money and possessions.

NorthOfNorth wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 8:31am:

First world affirmations are usually those imbued with the notion that the affirmer has absolute control over destiny... Its genesis is an amalgam of existentialism, self-serving mysticism and a sense of entitlement to cosmic good luck. The idea that we are thrown into the world and largely at its mercy has little or no place among the materially affluent who cannot imagine a cosmos that does not bend to their will.

Yet there are two sources of suffering that can not be ignored, and I wish I could find the quote from Buddha. The first lies with concerning yourself with matters that are outside your control*. The second lies with failing to address those matters that are within your control.

Some things that are not directly within your control are within your sphere of influence.

Modern cognitive psychologists refer to this as having an internal locus of control. We can recognise those who have an external locus of control They continually complain about how everybody else is to blame for their personal woes. They have nothing to do with it.


Quote:

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

* To take an example, if you are in a uncontrollable burning building, the fact that the building is burning may be outside your control, but planning an escape from that building may very well be within your control.

muso wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 7:16pm:

Yet there are two sources of suffering that can not be ignored, and I wish I could find the quote from Buddha. The first lies with concerning yourself with matters that are outside your control*. The second lies with failing to address those matters that are within your control.

And, oh how seductive it is to look outside oneself for the cause of suffering. How easy to assign blame to render oneself "innocent".

The path of lazy least resistance.


muso wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 7:16pm:

* To take an example, if you are in a uncontrollable burning building, the fact that the building is burning may be outside your control, but planning an escape from that building may very well be within your control.

Or may not.

NorthOfNorth wrote on May 21^st, 2012 at 7:33pm:

Or may not.

So the logical course for every potential issue that could affect you is to determine what you personally can do about it, and then act accordingly. The action may be as simple as "doing nothing",  avoidance, calling the Fire Brigade or taking direct personal action to address the issue. (put out the fire.)

NorthOfNorth wrote on May 8^th, 2012 at 7:00am:

"Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive." - Martin Luther King Jr A profound credo that requires no great leap across the abyss of doubt to discern its power to rationalise unjustified hardship and generate meaning from otherwise inexplicable evil.

But having said that...

In the wake of Newtown its hard to imagine that the bereaved parents will find any comfort in the notion that unearned suffering is redemptive; except maybe to ask... "If not redemptive, then what?"