Buddhist Understanding of Suffering

The Buddhist Understanding of Dukkha

Dukkha is often translated as suffering. Given that the first noble truth of Buddhism is that there is suffering, many Westerners unfairly characterize Buddhism as an unnecessarily depressing religion (Olendzki, 2020). Dukkha refers to the endless cycle of emotions, both happiness and sorrow, that is unceasing for unenlightened humans. Although it may be possible to experience intoxicating joy, when we are not in a state of enlightenment, the natural tendency is to experience anxiety about losing what we have (Olendzki, 2020). The solution to the end of suffering is radical acceptance of our current state of being, and to realize there is no differentiation between what we are experiencing now as joy or sorrow. Life is everchanging, and it is natural for pain to end and pleasure to end alike.

A better synonym for suffering may be attachment. We attach to our current state of being. If we are suffering, we assume the suffering will never end, and this is the worst pain that exists. Even if intellectually, we know this not to be true, on an emotional level, this is how an unenlightened being experiences pain. Similarly, if we are happy, we attach to the happiness, and worry about losing our health, material goods, and loved ones, just as we become attached to their absence if we lack them. Liberation from this state of suffering comes with the recognition that neither state is permanent, and by accepting all states of being, enlightenment is possible. Overcoming dukka is possible through the second noble truth, recognizing that dukkha has a cause, accepting that we can end dukka, and by following the path of nonattachment (Buddhism), we may escape from the attachment cycle of dukka. This is another reason that dukka is not depressing. It may be difficult, but Buddhism offers freedom from it.