Should We Just Put Up With It?

Question: How come all the books on Buddhism speak a lot about suffering? It seems like Buddhism is made to make us not be happy, and to just put up with it!

Response: The Buddha spoke about suffering because he wanted us to understand our problem. Before we can fix a problem, we need to know what it is.

Think of the Buddha as a doctor who you see because you know something is wrong, but you’re not sure what it is. The doctor says your illness is suffering and that he has a way to end it. But he knows that if you don’t accept the diagnosis, you won’t take the prescription so he tries very hard to help you understand the cause of your illness.

The Buddha diagnosed our problem as suffering and then proceeded to say what caused it. He then recommended how to end our suffering. When we do this, we will find lasting happiness. Unfortunately, we don’t yet understand what genuine, lasting happiness is. We think it’s having a lot of money or being famous.

After we practice for some time and learn about the teachings, we will begin to find some of this real happiness as we begin to let go of the desires for wealth, fame, sleep, food, etc. So no, we don’t “put up with” our suffering, we work very hard to end it. For ourselves and for others.

Comments

[Judy]

Just put up with suffering? Never!
Just knowing that I can find the cause of suffering within myself, and by practice work towards attaining the end of suffering, and eventual rebirth in The Pure Land,gives me great peace and joy.
I find it quite strange that anyone woud think the Buddha would want us to remain in a state of suffering, delusion and attachment.

[anybody]

Something else i would add to that "do we just put up with it." Is this: once we recognize wow yea there is lots of suffering. Yea wow doing he same thing and expectting a different result doesn't work. I would add to the question what is next after you get ok there IS suffering. Well after you get it then you love with all your being. Love yourself but not in a self indulgent way. Love yourself by making good decisions.

Loving caring and kindness is what its about. That is the what's next after "ok, yea so there is lots of suffering so now what?" With every part of our beingness. If there is such a word. This includes ourselves as well!

anybody

[Venerable Wuling]

Anybody, maybe it's not only that we're ok with suffering. Maybe it's more like we recognize the existence of suffering and then get on with handling it.

I really like your explanation of loving oneself--not by indulging ourselves but by making good decisions. The kind that will really benefit us not mollify us.

Judy, I agree! Recognizing suffering is just the first step. The Buddha spent forty-nine years teaching us how to not stop at knowing suffering exists, but to go on and end it. Forever!

[anybody]

"Going on and ending it forever." That is a little more tricky! That requires a larger investment or "buy in" or more concentrated effort. Suffering or the awareness of the existence of suffering has to a secured skill. Not emerging not developing it must be secured. That means one is DONE playing with the toys the world has to offer. Renunciation might be a twenty dollar word that could be used here. WOW This is where right effort, right actions, and maybe right concentration come into play.

Choice seems to be the problem. There are so many choices and they keep us entertained. Choices keep us superficially living or existing and wasting this little time we have left. They seem to be the glitter and not the gold.

"Going on and ending it" big call to arms who will heed the call? Too many toys. Too much glitter and so many people with glue on their hands (greed) but i am sure there is one or two or a small group who are willing to give it a run for its money.

Amitoufou,
anybody

[Venerable Wuling]

Anybody,

I love the imagery of "glue on their hands"! Yes, we are happily stuck, entranced by all we see and can imagine. It's tough to maintain right concentration when we have an entire world of distractions. No wonder the Buddha said this would be the Dharma-ending Age.

[elmertan]

Human greatest achivement in life is living without worries.

amitoufo

[Venerable Wuling]

Elmer,

Thank you for joining the conversation. What a wonderful state - living without worries. Amituofo...

[anybody]

Elmer isn't that the name of a glue?

anybody

[Venerable Wuling]

:-)

Okay, now we all know you live in the US!