Most people have the mistaken idea that Buddhism is all about suffering. In actual fact, he once taught, “I teach only suffering and the end of suffering.” In reality, life consists of suffering, disappointment, unsatisfactoriness and unease. Some “suffering” is unavoidable such as old age, sickness and death. However, we are accustomed to adding a […]
Search Results for: suffering
How to Transform Suffering into an Opportunity for Growth
Here we have more words of wisdom from Robert Emmons. This lesson is on how to transform suffering into an opportunity for growth. He quotes Abraham Maslow, who we heard from recently in The Creative Spirit Of The Self-Actualizer last month. It continues on the gratitude theme from A Gratitude Practice to Increase Happiness from […]
Ben Knew About Suffering
These words of wisdom come from Ben Franklin. They show that Ben knew about suffering when he wrote about inconveniences. I think that he also understood that life is available only in the present moment when he said that we “neither see nor feel those of the future.” Life’s inconveniences can be troublesome when we […]
Aware of Suffering
Gil Fronsdal wrote the wonderful words of wisdom for us to be aware of suffering in Tricycle Magazine recently. He has been practicing in the Soto Zen and Vipassana traditions since 1985 and guides the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California. I have read many of his articles and met him one day several […]
The End Of Suffering
As we move towards Easter Sunday, we witness the blossoming of spring and the warmer days of summer approaching. We prepare to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. We bring our love and compassion to Mother Earth and pray for the end of suffering. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh puts is so beautifully in this […]
Going To The Shore Of Non-suffering
Dharma Talk given by Thich Nhat Hanh on August 13, 1997 in Plum Village, France. © Thich Nhat Hanh Good morning, my dear friends. Today is the thirteenth of August, 1997, and we are in the Upper Hamlet. We still have one paramita to learn. Paramita means perfection, the perfection of the crossing over to […]
Foundations Of Buddhist Thought – The Transformation Of Suffering
The Buddha was born with the name Siddhārtha Gautama sometime around 563 BC in the small kingdom of the Shakya republic in what is now known as the town of Lumbini in Napal. His father was Śuddhodana, King of the Shakya clan. His mother, Queen Maha Maya, died during childbirth and he was raised by […]
The Art Of Suffering
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh gave a dharma talk on Sunday, March 10 in Plum Village, France in Upper Hamlet. The topic of his talk was the art of suffering. He said that we have many books on the art of happiness and we need a book on the art of suffering. We know that we cannot avoid […]
What Is The Difference Between Pain And Suffering?
I found this wonderful video on the Buddhist Geeks site and on YouTube. In the video, Kelly McGonigal says that pain is not suffering. Dr. Kelly McGonigal is senior teacher and consultant for the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). She is also author of The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It […]
Meditation Practices to Reduce Suffering
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people. He is also probably the most inspiring teacher of meditation practices to reduce suffering. The Tibetan people have suffered tremendously at the hands of the Chinese and those in exile had to leave everything behind. Yet, they seem to have a positive […]
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