SalixIncendium
अहं ब्रह्मास्मि
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 140
- Points
- 43
What is your view on suffering? What does your respective religion teach about suffering?
In my view, suffering isn't inherent to being human or being alive for that matter. Suffering is a choice.
There is a Buddhist parable of two arrows:
When one is faced with adversity, two arrows fly in one's direction. Being struck by an arrow will inevitably cause pain. What determines whether or not one suffers is how one reacts to being struck by that arrow. One can become focused on the pain that arrow brings and remain ignorant of the trajectory of a second arrow flying in their direction, and be struck again by that second arrow which brings suffering, or one can be aware of the pain of the first arrow, accept it for what it is, and shift their focus to being aware that a second arrow that is approaching and avoid being struck again.
The moral of the story is that one can focus on what is bringing them distress, or one can accept that what is causing pain is temporary and will soon pass, do their best to navigate through while it's there, focus on the big picture, and have gratitude for that which is in the world that brings them contentment.
In summary, pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.
In my view, suffering isn't inherent to being human or being alive for that matter. Suffering is a choice.
There is a Buddhist parable of two arrows:
When one is faced with adversity, two arrows fly in one's direction. Being struck by an arrow will inevitably cause pain. What determines whether or not one suffers is how one reacts to being struck by that arrow. One can become focused on the pain that arrow brings and remain ignorant of the trajectory of a second arrow flying in their direction, and be struck again by that second arrow which brings suffering, or one can be aware of the pain of the first arrow, accept it for what it is, and shift their focus to being aware that a second arrow that is approaching and avoid being struck again.
The moral of the story is that one can focus on what is bringing them distress, or one can accept that what is causing pain is temporary and will soon pass, do their best to navigate through while it's there, focus on the big picture, and have gratitude for that which is in the world that brings them contentment.
In summary, pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.