The truth of suffering - the philosophy of reducing attachment

We are honored to reprint and translate Master Su Chen's words here.  

Today, we explore the truth of suffering among the Four Noble Truths.

1) The concept of suffering

The truth of suffering is one of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. It is the core teaching revealed by Sakyamuni Buddha in his first sermon after he attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree.

The Four Noble Truths are the truth of suffering, the truth of origin, the truth of cessation, and the truth of path. The truth of suffering is the basis of the entire doctrine and reveals the essential suffering of life.

The truth of suffering points out that all conditioned phenomena in the world (that is, all existing phenomena) are imperfect, impermanent, and full of suffering. Suffering comes from various sources, including birth, old age, illness and death, love and separation, resentment, not being able to get what you want, etc. These are all painful realities that cannot be avoided in life.

In the Agama Sutra, the Buddha described the eight sufferings in detail, namely the suffering of birth, the suffering of old age, the suffering of illness, the suffering of death, the suffering of love and separation, the suffering of resentment and hatred, the suffering of not being able to seek what you want, and the suffering of the five aggregates. These eight types of suffering constitute the major suffering in human life and reveal the nature of existence. The five aggregates (form, feeling, thought, action, consciousness) are the five basic elements that constitute individual existence, and the suffering caused by the five aggregates is the pain caused by the constant change and impermanence of these elements.

2) The status of suffering in Buddhist philosophy

The truth of suffering plays an extremely important role in Buddhist philosophy because it is the basis for understanding the other three noble truths. Only by deeply understanding the truth of suffering can we truly understand the truth of origin (the cause of suffering), the truth of cessation (the end of suffering), and the truth of the path (the method of ending suffering). Buddhist philosophy believes that understanding the truth of suffering is the starting point of spiritual practice. Only by recognizing the suffering in the world can people be inspired to seek liberation and wisdom.

Buddhist classics such as the "Four Noble Truths Sutra" and "The Mahaparinirvana Sutra" have repeatedly emphasized the importance of the truth of suffering. On the path of spiritual practice, the understanding of the truth of suffering is the basis for practicing the four foundations of mindfulness (body, feeling, mind, and Dharma) and is the starting point for obtaining the wisdom of liberation.

3) The deep meaning of suffering

The significance of the truth of suffering is that it reminds us that everything in this world is impermanent, and being attached to anything will bring suffering. Therefore, recognizing the truth of suffering can help us reduce attachment and cultivate renunciation. The truth of suffering does not make people pessimistic, but guides people to see the truth of life and then seek relief.

Buddhist philosophy emphasizes that through observation and mindfulness, individuals can gradually free themselves from attachment to the world, thereby achieving inner peace and tranquility. Understanding the truth of suffering can help us accept suffering in life and learn to respond with wisdom and compassion.

4) Application in daily life

In daily life, we can deal with various difficulties by observing and thinking about the truth of suffering.

For example, when we face work pressure and interpersonal problems, we can use the concept of suffering to remind ourselves that these troubles are just a part of life and are not permanent. Through mindfulness and meditation, we can develop a deep understanding of the truth of suffering, thereby reducing our fear of and attachment to suffering.

Here’s a concrete example: Let’s say you’re miserable because you’ve lost an important job. At this point, you can observe your feelings and realize that this pain stems from your attachment to work. You can think further that this job is not everything in your life. There are many other meaningful things in life that are worthy of your pursuit. Through this way of thinking, you can gradually let go of your attachment to losing your job, accept this reality, and regain your direction in life.

Conclusion

As an important part of Buddhist philosophy, the truth of suffering reveals the truth of life and teaches us how to face the pain in life with wisdom and compassion. By deeply understanding and practicing the truth of suffering, we can gradually reduce our inner pain and achieve spiritual peace and liberation. This is not only a philosophical way of thinking, but also a practical way of life, helping us find inner peace and happiness in modern life.

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