Questions tagged [suffering]
The suffering tag has no usage guidance.
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How not to feel helpless against the fact dukkha is everywhere?
While meditating today, I realized that I am very very far away from attaining any kind of relief from suffering. In particular, I am referring to suffering from the endless/insatiable human condition ...
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What is the cause of suffering in Buddhism, is it wanting, craving, attachment, or something else?
I've looked at other responses on Buddhism exchange and googled it too, and I'm still confused about the cause of suffering. Is there one root cause? Multiple causes? Or does Buddhism claim not to ...
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Should dukkha be translated as `being unexpected`?
Dukkha is traditionally translated as suffering, but I heard from a scholar of Eastern history that it's better translated as being unexpected. In my interpretation (not just in what I heard), that ...
- 637
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Two arrows in the domain of vedana
I am familiar with the simile of the two arrows, i.e. an unenlightened being experiencing physical pain (first arrow that hits) will grasp for the release from that pain and thus be hit by a second ...
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Compulsion to repeat afflictions and Buddhism
I've noticed in myself a tendency to pursue situations that cause a certain stress, in a somewhat compulsive way. This is a bit like people who are drawn to people who are bad for them. I have heard ...
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Why is there even a way to the end of suffering?
There are the four noble truths and we know who and how he found and taught them. There are philosophical questions like where did the first Karma come from and so on, that are not quite conceivable ...
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How does Buddhism deal with failure?
I've developed over the years an attachment to social media, which I've many, many times tried to break. I'm starting to suspect it is because there's no problems when things go well, but when I fail, ...
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Should one who follows the Dhamma give drugs to the dying to ease thier suffering?
My Christian wife is dying and the doctor has prescribed morphine and tranquilizers. She is losing her mind and the drugs may be contributing to that. I don't want her to suffer but I also don't want ...
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Is there a tremendous decrease in suffering at stream-entry?
Is it true that at stream-entry there is a profound decrease in the intensity of suffering perceived in samsara? If I'm not wrong, the Buddha does use the metaphor of a small clod of earth, as tiny as ...
- 545
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Why do enlightened beings want to save sentient beings? Does everyone want to be saved?
Does enlightenment always comes with compassion so that all enlightened beings aspire to save sentient beings from sufferings? Or is the question 'why' only showing that I am using my discriminating ...
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Did Gautama Buddha know his path?
When Siddhartha Gautama started his path, before acknowledging the possibility of achieving and passing on the path to enlightenment, is there reference of his thoughts before making the decision to ...
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What does Buddhism say about Antinatalism? [duplicate]
Antinatalism is the view that it is ethically wrong to procreate any sort of sentient beings, be it human or otherwise because to exist means also to experience pain, pleasure, suffering, bodily ...
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Is there a line of thought in Buddhism that is less centered on suffering?
I am at the very beginning of my journey.
As I understand, suffering and the escape of it are central parts of Buddhism. (Though the notation "all life is suffering" seems to be a ...
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How can we end the suffering of all animals?
My idea is to build a black hole and destroy everything, but this idea may seem evil to many.
I have no other idea, and many may say we should allow other beings to continue to suffer, I think this is ...
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Buddha teaches the extinguishing of suffering, what if an individual is okay with suffering?
Is there any commentary on the path of choosing to coexist with suffering?
For example, some people think that suffering adds color to life, that the lows makes the highs better.
Or how some ...
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It's ok to grow, harvest and consume vegetables and fruits, because they are not sentient?
A teaching householder here adviced:
"It's ok to grow, harvest and consume vegetables and fruits, because they are not sentient." ("ok" here was to be assumed of having no negative ...
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How to deal with suffering and losing faith?
I came across this section by chance, and read another question by a person with misanthropic feelings. I read all the answers because I feel the same as her.
I've always been spiritual with an ...
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Do only sentient being suffer
All I can think of off the top of mind head is the zen claim that mountains are buddha nature. Do they suffer? They are composed of parts, and I believe that there is a type of suffering from "...
user2512
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How does an ordinary person adopt Right View concerning the the hardships of the Buddha's earthly life?
As we know, the Eightfold Path begins with Right View, and then from Right View follows Right Intention. Right View - belief in suffering, the relief from suffering and the Triple Gem; from this ...
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What is prajna?
In the west, when we talk about wisdom we tend to mean knowing the value of things. As far as I tell, prajna is about emptiness, at least in its perfected aspect. So does it also allow us knowledge of ...
user2512
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Does freedom from birth and death mean there is no freedom to experience birth and death without desire?
As I understand the cycle of birth and death produces suffering but ,once the truth is realized, there is no suffering ,so living in this world shouldn't be any longer a problem .So is freedom from ...
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Desire root cause is Suffering, isn't Nirvana the goal of Buddhism is a Desire? [duplicate]
Subject refers, any short good answer here with an article supports? This is for in case somebody asks me this?
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"grasping a sign", "fixed view", and suffering
I heard that "grasping a sign" is considered a bad thing in Buddhism. Why is that so and what does that refer to?
We know that "attachment to views" is a bad thing too. Are these related? (signs and ...
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Comparing suffering of humans to people from higher realm
In the story of Prince Nanda, He equal the most beautiful female humen on earth to a died monkey as compared with a women from higher realm.
Lord Buddha said that The king of all earth is like a ...
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How should I offer a compassionate ear to my mother while setting healthy boundaries?
I hope you are all well.
I have been studying Buddhism for a few months and I am very grateful for the teachings. I've visited this website frequently for similar questions and this is the first ...
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How would be the world if there is no suffering?
Imagine a world (a planet with humans) without suffering that the people in there are always happy,nothing to worry about.What would be the characteristics of that world ?
At least,Can we define the ...
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Animals: why did the Buddha remain silent? [closed]
I know there have been discussions about vegetarianism, but my question is not exactly that.
I know that:
The Buddha allowed eating meat for monks, if it is clear that the animal was not killed on ...
- 786
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143
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Should we care about what others think?
Should we care about what others think? If so, to what level? (Most of the time, those thoughts creates suffering).
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Must I continue a relationship with my abusive parents?
My parents were physically and mentally abusive to me as a child. As an adult, they have never recognized what they have done to me and even try to guilt me into having a relationship with them that I ...
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Rejecting clinging to both pleasure and displeasure
I recently listened to a talk by Ajahn Chah, in which he mentions (@ ~14:20-14:53) that wisdom is found when one clings to neither pleasure nor displeasure. This really created a dilemma in my head ...
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How does a Buddhist care for others' suffering?
Please forgive me, I know really little about buddhism. From what I heard, the Buddhist will try to find relief from suffering by meditation and trying to be selfless. But what about others that are ...
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When is it love? When is it attachment?
I have this misunderstanding about love and attachment as they relate to one another. It's hard to put in words, so I'll try with some examples first.
My understanding is that love is something you ...
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Choose option in suffering?
Hair fall suffering..
Breakup suffering.
Self criticism suffering.
Separation suffering .
Not to get what is want .
.......................................................................................
user17101
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Opposite of buddhism
Is there anything considered the opposite of Buddhism? I have guesses and I'm thinking contrasts might give interesting insights.
In my limited understanding, the concept of an "opposite" to ...
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"true love", compassion and suffering
According to Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, "true love" has four elements:
Loving kindness: this produces a lot of joy and happiness.
Compassion: it makes us and the other people suffer less.
Joy: "If ...
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Formless Realm Suffering Question
What I would like to know is how does an entity (stream of consciousness) experience suffering if it doesn’t have a physical body? Like say in the hell realm or any of the lower formless realms. Is ...
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Who am I? Who am I without past memory?
Who am I? Am I my memory? For example, I am hindu. I am engineer. I am Rajput.
Who am I without past memory? Am I my past memory? I am engineer. I am hindu.
user17101
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Waves of Sadness
I've cut out many addictive behaviours recently, and in line with what I read about addictive things, I've experienced the return of feelings of great sadness and discouragement. Seemingly without ...
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The Justice Thought & System & its Morals?
Namo Buddhaya!
Here are my questions regarding justice systems & their morals:
Would it be skillful & moral to report someone to a principle, a police
officer, or any sort of authority ...
user16793
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11 year old daughter suffocated, was dead and was resuscitated now in a state of reduced concsciousness
I am a father of a now 13 year old daughter. She was born with the genetic disorder Achondroplasie (Dwarfism, "small people").
At the age of 11 we decided that she should undergo leg-extension surgery....
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Does Buddhism endorse pacifism in times of injustice?
How would a monk or a Buddhist answer look like in dealing with injustices like murder, rape, torture?
If we refer to Dhammapada 3, the victims get instructions how to deal with those misfortunes, ...
- 2,550
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Suffering in Meditation Versus in Daily Life
I feel like this is a naive question, but I'm wondering what is the difference between experiencing discomfort and distress in meditation versus in daily life outside of meditation. Do the same ...
- 5,393
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What is the process for cleansing a very negative action?
Several years ago I did something that was totally legal, but very much against my upbringing, my world-view, and my ethics. It was a spur of the moment thing and I have regretted it massively ever ...
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Is life not blessing or mystery but suffering in Buddhism?
Just like the title my question is as simple as it gets.
Please give your thought as short as possible. I just wanna confirm my idea.
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Is there a kind of consulting service in Buddhism?
Similarly to psychotherapy counselling/consulting service, is there an equivalent form in Buddhism, in that the counselor is trained in Buddhism instead of clinical psychology? I haven't heard of such ...
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When would a Buddhist want to attach?
I understand that Buddhism is meant to end sufferings. The Buddhists welcome everything and don't clinging when it's gone. They don't necessary cut existing attachments (knowledge, relationships), but ...
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Information requested on Buddhist monks self-immolation mental technique
Thích Quảng Đức was a monk who immolated himself to protest against the repression by the Vietnamese government in 1963. It was filmed how he adopted the full-lotus posture an fire was set on him. The ...
user2428
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If a buddhist had the opportunity to stop the holocaust by killing hitler, should he or she do it? [duplicate]
This is basically a philosophical question, in the light of buddhist ethics.
Suppose a buddhist person were in a situation in which he could stop the jewish holocaust, but the ONLY way he or she ...
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What did Siddhartha really meant by ending suffering
I constantly hear from buddhists that "happiness is inside of you" and that thinking you can get away from suffering by wanting to be somewhere else, or wanting to be with someone else or stuff like ...
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Is there an antibuddha?
Is there a figure in Buddhism corresponding to the Christian notion of such? And what would that mean, practically?
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