how do we end suffering without ending free will?

Answer 1

thats the quest that prince sedhatra (tibetan budha) went on a journey for ...his belief you must find the very thin line between any two extremes....the "gray line area" if you have it....thats perfect elightenment

Answer 2

Suffering is conceptual, based on the individual's values. We say the poor are suffering. But compared to a medieval peasant, they live opulent lives. Think about it, it is common for poor people to have color TVs, microwaves, cars, houses with air conditioning. Compared to anyone in the medieval period, be it a peasant or the Pope, modern poor people have far better standards of living.

Even a millionaire would have suffering if they want to live like a billionaire.

So the question is not, how do we end suffering, because the question itself implies humans do not in fact have free will (if they didn't have it, then the human mind would read like a piece of code, with one way of ending suffering applying equally to everyone). The path to end suffering starts from within the person, we as a society must only guarantee that their minds and bodies are free enough to pursue enlightenment.

Answer 3

Ending free will would not end suffering. I would be miserable without free will. And there would always be suffering from disease and such.

IMHO - the only way to end suffering is to end life. Of course I'm speaking of universal suffering here and not the suffering of a particular person.

Answer 4

This seems a bit of a non-sequitor to me but here goes. First, free-will. Doesn't exist, never has, never will. What free will do you impose on yourself when your body says its time to go to the bathroom, eat, breath, wake up, go to sleep etc. Ah, suicide you say. That will prove we have a free will. Not exactly. No one commits suicide because of how happy and well things are going. Suicide is the penultimate reason there is no free will. It is your body finally conquering you and that last bit of choice you thought you had. So now that free will is a debunked myth like Allah, Jesus, or Santa Claus lets get on to suffering. Mental suffering I assume? Why must we think we're so free to enjoy ourselves? Why must we think we're more than the sum of our parts? Get over it! You're born you exist you die and that's it. That is all there is and so enjoy it while it lasts. We never ask about the will and suffering of monkeys or ants or plants. We have painted this grandiose picture of ourselves based on the myth of God as father to his precious children. Nonsense! Once we accept ourselves as highly efficient and intelligent beings who wish to live their lives for what they are in an emperical sense we will all be better off.

Answer 5

We are each responsible for our own happiness. We have all met people who have little or nothing but are filled with joy (i.e. Mother Teresa). Also, we have seen people who have every thing and suffer for nothing, but are still miserable. The causes of suffering will always be around; free will allows you to choose how you confront that suffering.

Answer 6

I think the fallacy is stating that suffering is a condition that can be stopped. Further, the illusion of free will likely has no consequence on the condition of suffering.

Answer 7

Why would anyone want to end suffering? It is only through trail and tribulation that humanity grows. Without suffering, we would have no drive to improve life.

Answer 8

We can't, even the Bible says there always be multitudes of the poor and downtrodden. We can help a few, help many thousands, even hundreds of thousands, but we can't help them all. Many refuse help. Maybe in another hundred years disease will be wiped out or very curable, that would be great for mankind. But there will always be the poor.