Questions tagged [suffering]
The suffering tag has no usage guidance.
127
questions
5
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7answers
513 views
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
133 views
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
190 views
How to lose identification with my body and physical appearance
Ever since I was a child I was very look concious. I took pride from my looks and took shame from them as well. I'm at a point where my sense of worth is mainly derived from such an unstable, ...
3
votes
3answers
160 views
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 ...
1
vote
3answers
63 views
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 ...
5
votes
6answers
135 views
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
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 ...
9
votes
14answers
6k views
Did the Buddha really say that “life is suffering”?
I often see the first noble truth (duḥkha) stated as "life is suffering". I have yet to come across a passage in a Buddhist text which phrases it like this - mostly they don't talk about "life" in ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
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 ...
-1
votes
2answers
76 views
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
210 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
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 ...
6
votes
18answers
2k views
Buddhism and misanthropy
Is it possible to be Buddhist and a misanthropist? I've realised I actually despise humanity and sometimes I fantasise about the sun exploding and wiping us all out. I believe that the majority of ...
5
votes
7answers
308 views
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 ...
35
votes
19answers
4k views
How to explain what Buddhism is?
My mother and I come from a non-Buddhist culture/background/society/country/family.
At one point when I had an opportunity to explain to her what Buddhism is, I was doing well (i.e. she was listening ...
-2
votes
3answers
64 views
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 "...
1
vote
3answers
215 views
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 ...
1
vote
3answers
97 views
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
91 views
“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 ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
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?
0
votes
0answers
48 views
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 ...
2
votes
7answers
433 views
How can one avoid the suffering after getting cheated?
Today I suffered severe disappointment because I thought I was cheated some amount of money. I couldn't complain to anyone because I had no proof. And I suspect those who cheated me will also cheat ...
1
vote
5answers
597 views
Is it possible to be reborn for all eternity?
According to Buddhist teachings, is it possible to continue to reborn and suffer for all eternity?
Suppose if a being never attained any merit, never was able to work through its old karma. Would it ...
0
votes
3answers
102 views
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
70 views
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
136 views
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).
6
votes
11answers
952 views
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 ...
36
votes
8answers
10k views
If a buddhist should not kill a mouse living in their home, what justification do they have to rid themselves of a parasite such tapeworms
An extension of this question posted earlier:
How not to kill the mouse in my house?
Where does one draw the line for which forms of life are ok to destroy, and which ones are not? Is it just a ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
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 ...
3
votes
7answers
1k views
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 ...
2
votes
5answers
190 views
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....
-1
votes
4answers
127 views
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
Choose option in suffering?
Hair fall suffering..
Breakup suffering.
Self criticism suffering.
Separation suffering .
Not to get what is want .
.......................................................................................
0
votes
5answers
313 views
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 ...
1
vote
3answers
80 views
“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 ...
2
votes
3answers
105 views
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.
3
votes
6answers
211 views
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
309 views
Are some forms of employment less just to workers, according to Buddhism?
I live in a pleasant apartment complex and work as an Instructor. My job is cushy, which is good because I have health issues (and teach adults with health issues). But I watch workers mow the lawn at ...
3
votes
5answers
351 views
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 ...
2
votes
4answers
288 views
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 ...
1
vote
3answers
91 views
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, ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Does Buddhism focus on suffering too much?
The core of the Buddhist teachings are the four noble truths which talks about the existence of suffering. Other religions criticize Buddhism telling that this focusing on suffering makes the ...
1
vote
5answers
135 views
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
161 views
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
211 views
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 ...
1
vote
7answers
346 views
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.
1
vote
4answers
222 views
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
152 views
Do thoughts influence everything? Or is this an illusion?
What does Buddhism think about/or is it accepted in it that we influence everything with our (un)conscious thoughts and emotions and impressions (because these are also some form off thoughts right?) ...
-1
votes
2answers
177 views
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 ...
