Acknowledging Suffering

We All Live Within the Realms of Suffering

The first noble truth—the simple acknowledgement of our struggle—is actually good news.  If we start any journey with rose-colored glasses or false promises, we end up disillusioned. If we start with an acknowledgment of reality, free from shame or embarrassment, connecting our own struggle with the struggle of others, then we can move toward a genuine optimism. ~ Ethan Nichtern, The Road Home

There are many forms of suffering that are easy to recognize. Today, we can readily recognize the suffering that is occurring Nepal after this devastating earthquake. We see the suffering erupting in the streets of American cities as anger arises over the persistent and systemic racism against African American men. And we are often burdened with our own troubles that may include heartbreak, anger, stress or depression.

Sometimes, we look upon others and envy them their seemingly carefree existence. Wealth, we think, and perhaps good health, are the keys to happiness. But in their own way, the wealthy and the privileged also suffer.

The Buddhist symbol of the Wheel of Life contains not just the realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals but also the realms of the gods, demi-gods and humans. Each of these realms is a state of suffering. 

While it might be assumed that living in the realms of gods, demi-gods, or humans is preferable to living in the realms of animals, hungry ghosts or hell, this is not necessarily the case. 

At first glance, the gods seem to have more pleasure and fewer sources of pain in their lives, especially compared to those who are living in hell, but the god realm is nonetheless a state of suffering. 

All things are, however, impermanent, and even things that give us pleasure must come to an end. 

The activities and possessions of the gods might give them pleasure in the moment, but the gods know that careers can be ruined, adoration lost, and money stolen or frittered away. The gods fear the end of their pleasure-filled lifestyle, and if they do not experience its loss during their lifetime, they live in dread of its loss at death. This fear of imminent loss is a constant source of suffering for the gods. 

In comparison, for those living in hell, who suffer what appears to be a life full of pain and torture, the impermanence of all things means their hellish existence will also come to an end. All the realms are realms of suffering. Only through the realization of nirvana will we be free from suffering. And there is always hope, for within each of the realms, the Buddha can be seen offering those of us living therein whatever lessons we require to develop awareness and, thereby, to attain enlightenment; we merely have to choose to accept the opportunities we are presented with.

Observing ourselves and others living within the realms of suffering should not invoke such feelings as blame, anger or regret. To the contrary, all states of suffering are full of potential, full of opportunity. It is therefore possible, through awareness, to look upon suffering—to experience suffering—with feelings of acceptance and forgiveness, and hope. 

The prayers of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, who is known as the living Indian saint Amma, reinforce my hope. One day, during a gathering of her devotees, as Amma was giving her blessings (darshan), someone presented her with a baby bird that had fallen from its nest. She fed the little bird and she gave it her blessing, and she said that the bird’s vulnerability, neediness and cries for sustenance reminded her of the suffering of people all around the world. She explained that only through true love and compassion could such suffering be alleviated. This is what she said to her devotees that day: “Children, the tears of those suffering from extreme poverty and other misfortunes, as well as of those who have more than enough materially but are still crying out deep within, can only be dried by pure love and compassion. May that compassion awaken in everyone, everywhere.” (Aug 3, 2014, amritapuri.org.)

For further explanation of these ideas please see "The Wheel of Life: A Brief Explanation" in The Six Realms of Samsara: Stories for Awakening by Lindsey Arnold . Now available on My Author's Spotlight . Please also see my other blogs on A Guru Once Said.  Thank you!