034-Suffering and pain - Buddhism in daily life

Suffering and pain are not the same thing, for example, we can suffer without being in physical pain.

Pain is a complex sensory sensation sent to the brain mainly by signals from the nerves. Suffering, on the other hand, refers to everything that burdens a person physically and mentally. These are primarily unfulfilled expectations or needs, loss and separation, constraints, old age, illness and death. Of course, one can also suffer from pain, such as chronic pain, but the word "suffering" is aimed more at the mental component, whereas pain has come to mean physical injury.

According to Buddha, we suffer, the philosophy of the great teacher revolves around suffering as the source of our dissatisfaction, of our hardship with ourselves, but also with the environment. We begin to suffer because we realize that nothing is permanent, we will lose everything, change will be the only constant in life.

Nevertheless, there are greed, hatred and delusion in us humans, which throw us completely off track, close us the true connections. What is the use of being greedy when we will lose everything again? What is the use of hating when all living beings will perish? What is the use of being blinded, when we clearly see old age coming, so we know what is coming.

Whether we suffer or not, that is first and foremost a decision. It sounds very simple and it is very simple. If you decide right now not to suffer anymore, no matter what may come, then you will not suffer anymore. A close relative dies, you decide whether you will suffer. Because one thing is certain, the relative had to die, because all people die. You say: But not now, I miss him/her so much. Well, but why suffer from it, dying is a natural process. What is the use if you suffer "like a dog"? What would change if you would adopt a neutral approach, something like Buddha recommended to his followers? Nothing would change, the world would continue to turn, your environment would be unchanged, only you yourself, you would be much more comfortable. After all, if you can't change anything, why fret about it? Couldn't it be that by reaching "enlightenment" we could change the matter a lot? And if so, how?

We cannot always avoid pain, but we can avoid suffering. Free yourself from suffering, it's your choice.

Wise is he who comes to the complete annihilation of suffering in relation to arising and passing away

- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero

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