This week we have been discussing the "problem of evil", suffering and Theistic, Hindu and Buddhist approaches to this topic. I find the philosophy of Buddhism to be a very practical way to handle the reality of suffering in life with a simple (but not easy) roadmap of 4 noble truths: 1) We accept that suffering exists, 2) our selfish cravings and desires create suffering, 3) there is a way to end suffering and 4) the way to end suffering is through enlightened living.
I believe that it is quite possible to live according to the teachings of the Buddha in the contemporary United States, but much of popular culture encourages a mode of thinking that contrasts sharply with it. We are taught first of all to mostly look for the causes of suffering outside ourselves instead of focusing on how our reactions to painful events make us suffer. We are almost of the mindset that we should have little or no pain at all. We expect to have discomforts eliminated, to be perpetually entertained, never bored. Our consumer culture encourages us to constantly want the next new great product that will make our lives wonderful. When we always focus on our desire for things to be different than they are in reality, we suffer unnecessarily. We can accept that suffering exists, and live the best life we can without making our inevitable pain worse. It reminds me of a time when I was about 10 years old and had to get a shot at the doctor's office that I wasn't looking forward to. I spent so much time worrying myself sick that the time leading up to the shot was far more unpleasant than the momentary pain of the injection itself.
We are also taught to look for answers outside of ourselves. If we read the right book or join the right club or religion or purchase the right thing, we can get receive the solutions to all of our problems, but it really isn't that easy. When the Buddha said "Be ye lamps unto yourselves", I think he was saying that we each have to find our own way to the truth and it cannot be a passive process.
As a culture, we seem to be in denial about old age, sickness and death. We avoid open and honest discussions of the harsh realities of aging and end of life issues because they are unpleasant. As the Buddha discovered when he left the sheltered confines of his palace, these are all inevitable stages (if we live long enough to get to be old) yet we often go through our lives as though these things won't ever happen to us. In a materialistic and consumer oriented society, the impermanence and transitory nature of all things as expressed in Buddhist philosophy may not be the most popular concept.
I was especially struck by the ancient story of the desperate grieving woman who goes to the Buddha in hopes that he will be able to revive her dead child. The Buddha, in response to her request, instructs her to collect mustard seeds from every household that has not experienced a death. When the mother is of course unsuccessful, she realizes that "everyone she had met had been touched by the sorrow of death". In seeing the pain of others, she stops focusing exclusively on her own pain and therein comes to an acceptance of her child's death. This is a perfect example of detaching from our "narrow concern with ourselves", thereby ending our suffering. The woman still misses her deceased child, but she no longer makes her own pain worse by denying death and only thinking of herself.
I believe that it is quite possible to live according to the teachings of the Buddha in the contemporary United States, but much of popular culture encourages a mode of thinking that contrasts sharply with it. We are taught first of all to mostly look for the causes of suffering outside ourselves instead of focusing on how our reactions to painful events make us suffer. We are almost of the mindset that we should have little or no pain at all. We expect to have discomforts eliminated, to be perpetually entertained, never bored. Our consumer culture encourages us to constantly want the next new great product that will make our lives wonderful. When we always focus on our desire for things to be different than they are in reality, we suffer unnecessarily. We can accept that suffering exists, and live the best life we can without making our inevitable pain worse. It reminds me of a time when I was about 10 years old and had to get a shot at the doctor's office that I wasn't looking forward to. I spent so much time worrying myself sick that the time leading up to the shot was far more unpleasant than the momentary pain of the injection itself.
We are also taught to look for answers outside of ourselves. If we read the right book or join the right club or religion or purchase the right thing, we can get receive the solutions to all of our problems, but it really isn't that easy. When the Buddha said "Be ye lamps unto yourselves", I think he was saying that we each have to find our own way to the truth and it cannot be a passive process.
As a culture, we seem to be in denial about old age, sickness and death. We avoid open and honest discussions of the harsh realities of aging and end of life issues because they are unpleasant. As the Buddha discovered when he left the sheltered confines of his palace, these are all inevitable stages (if we live long enough to get to be old) yet we often go through our lives as though these things won't ever happen to us. In a materialistic and consumer oriented society, the impermanence and transitory nature of all things as expressed in Buddhist philosophy may not be the most popular concept.
I was especially struck by the ancient story of the desperate grieving woman who goes to the Buddha in hopes that he will be able to revive her dead child. The Buddha, in response to her request, instructs her to collect mustard seeds from every household that has not experienced a death. When the mother is of course unsuccessful, she realizes that "everyone she had met had been touched by the sorrow of death". In seeing the pain of others, she stops focusing exclusively on her own pain and therein comes to an acceptance of her child's death. This is a perfect example of detaching from our "narrow concern with ourselves", thereby ending our suffering. The woman still misses her deceased child, but she no longer makes her own pain worse by denying death and only thinking of herself.
You make some excellent points here, I particularly like the denial about old age, sickness, etc. In fact, think how old age is itself conceived as a kind of 'sickness' instead of part of the life cycle more and more these days. I also agree with what you say about looking for easy solutions to problems.
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