The absence of pain.
“Both formerly and now, it is only suffering that I describe and the cessation of suffering.” – Buddha
Buddha is perhaps one of the most influential figures in philosophy ever. Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world; there are millions of practicing Buddhists all over the globe.
And… I’m not one of them.
Yup lol, no I’m not but I am utterly fascinated by his philosophy.
So, before I share my opinions on the topic of Buddhism, I fist have to prove myself that I at least have a proper idea of what I am talking about.
What makes me qualified to give my opinions on this issue?
- I have been interested in Buddhism for a while.
- I have read the sacred religious text of Buddhists, “The Dhammapada”
- These are just my opinions lol.
THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING
If you decide to go through some of Buddha’s teaching, there is a theme that keeps repeating itself throughout, that is: the cessation of suffering. This concept of freeing oneself from the chains of misery is the central theme of all of Buddha’s teachings.
But as I learnt more about it. I wondered.
“Is just freeing oneself from suffering enough?”
Or in other words, would someone be “Happy” if he was merely free of suffering? I mean for me, being free from suffering and actually enjoying life are two very different things. Sure, I might be “free from suffering” but that doesn’t mean I would live my life bunny hopping with joy.
I felt like, joy was the ultimate goal instead of just mere ending of suffering.
Yet, Buddha insists that it the “Freedom from suffering” that is the ultimate goal of human life. And that did not sit well with me for a long time.
But I think I know why lol.
l/b
So, I think that the reason why Buddha insisted that the end of suffering is more important than the pursuit of joy in life is because: it is a safer route to happiness. In other words, if one were to peruse joy instead of just trying to end suffering, that person is bound to be caught in materialistic desires and fail his quest for eternal happiness altogether. To be “joyful” is to have something more than just the absence of pain. It, by definition, requires pleasure. However, if one just tired to cease suffering from his life instead of looking for ways to make it more pleasurable thenthere are less chances for that person to get distracted from his quest for happiness, making it more likely that he will follow through on his ultimate goal.
Hence, Buddha’s message stems from a deep understanding of human nature that people, by nature, are easily tempted by materialistic distractions. Hence, for the highest chance for one to find inner peace, it is wisest to simply aim for the end of suffering instead of wanting joy in life.
Cheers!
= )
Honestblogs 