All life is suffering?

Question

The first noble truth of Buddha says "all life is suffering"
From all emotions comes suffering. I can see that. At the same time Buddha teaches us to live in the present moment. So wouldn't that mean that we can desire and feel as much as we want- regardless of how it may hurt us later on?
What are your thoughts on suffering?

Answer 1

The problem is GRASPING,
If you reduce grasping then:
Having=ok
Not-Having=ok

Ok?

Edit:
Actually, if you reduce grasping, you can enjoy the moment more, because you are not concerned so much about losing that moment
(which of course is inevitable, hence the teachings on impermanence).
Just accept each impermanent moment, then you can really enjoy it.

Answer 2

Hi VV;

The First Noble Truth actually states in (the Buddha's own) synopsis, that the five aggregates WITH CLINGING (excuse caps: is important emphasis) are suffering.

I think one can infer that if / where there is no clinging, there's no suffering.

Have just done an MA thesis on this. :-)

Am waiting for results... :-)

See Ven. Piyadassi's account below, and compare Professor Harvey's (of the 'First Sermon': the setting in motion of the Wheel of Dharma).

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.piya.html

(Para 5).

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.harv.html

(Para 4)

Feelings are an important part of the Dharma.

They are generally impermanent, but ascendingly / progressively pleasant states can be gleaned as one develops the jhaanas.

(Basically: 'Cooling').

For that, one must make wise choices & keep good friends.

Keep exerting.

I've heard sensual feeling is unconstructive, in the long run, but I don't think one should be afraid to experience it (transitorally).

Good Luck, Sis!

ic

Answer 3

A desire is false since it is just in the mind in its primary stage.If we are slaves of the mind the desire wants to manifest itself physically which will lead to misery.If we live in the present moment with awareness the falseness of the desire is realised and it flies away .If we are totally in what we do without any guilt let it be anything the reality is reaveled instantly.The suffering is created by attachment to the desire the desire itself is harmless it is just another thought.

Answer 4

suffering isn't the exact translation of the pali word dukkha which also can mean conflict, unsatisfactoriness, unsubstantial, emptiness depending on the context as well as suffering. the first noble truth is part a whole teaching and should be seen and understood in that teaching not as separate to the others. everything not just emotions have the seed of dukkha as they change and are not in their nature pure but empty of true existence and their for unsatisfactory. we can already desire and feel anything but it is tainted in unsatisfactory experience of how life truly is.

Answer 5

you're missing a part here:
buddha realized that suffering stems from want. to truly eliminate all suffering you must get rid of your desires to want. if you don't want anything, there's nothing to suffer from.

However, keep in mind that buddhism was never meant to be taken literally. buddha was never a god, he was enlightened in the sense that he was philosphical and realized the relation between desire and suffering. although he tried to elminate his own personal suffering, he acknowledged that it may not be possible. the key point is to try to eliminate want, be selfless, and live a productive, happy life. buddhism is really a philosophy, not a religion (unless you make it into one)

life is full of suffering... but it's also what you make of it.

Answer 6

All suffering is caused by Ignorance.
All Ignorance is caused by desire ... for different circumstances.
If you detach from good/bad or happy/sad ... if you can get to appreciate that stuff happens and it continues to do so whilst ever you live ... not to take it seriously or even personally, stuff can be pretty cool.
Oh, and no expectations; then you can never be disappointed.

Try to become the pessimistic optimist ... I'm trying to.
Not far to go.

Answer 7

All of creation suffers through the travails of birth pangs. Suffering refines us, its completes us, it develops us. Through many tribulations does one enter the inner kingdom - one must face themselves and overcome their organic limitations.

Living in the present moment refers to consciousness. To be in the moment is to be in conscious, and living within consciousness there is no mechanical stasis, we can breath in emotion and exhale it, we can see the underlying reality of every experience - this is truly living in the moment. This is enlightenment, but it takes a mind that is harmonious to truly achieve this without ceasing, ones whose consciousness has progressed beyond the carnal level.

Desires, attachments is what makes us suffer, the world reflecting suffering is our own inner worlds reflected back at us, this suffering is a effect of our inner kingdom being divided within - that is our levels of being, more directly at this level our minds being in division and chaos. And each sub-division has its own stimulus, this sub division in our personality is caused by external thing, event, interaction entices to BE.

Edit - I'm not a Buddhist though, but of the same spirit.

Answer 8

Buddha was living as a contemplative human being. But not everybody can afford to do that (monks etc.). So yes, all emotions are subject to future suffering, because Buddhists believe that when you die you still have your mind active for some undefined periods of time, so you still live all your passions and longings -like drinking, eating, love etc.- but you no longer have a carnal body to satisfy them.
I like this theory, as long as excess is considered (addiction, alcoholism etc.) but for many other reasons, for me life is a succession of JOY, and love.

Answer 9

All living outside of being with God is said to be "suffering" hence the "all life is suffering" part. At least that is my interpretation.

Answer 10

In cognito gave you some good words, I will only add that there are 4 Noble Truths.