-- 作者： jennifer -- 發表時間： 2005/08/19 01:59pm From the book: Good Question Good Answer by Ven. S. Dhammika Question: What is the Frist noble Truth? Answer: The First Noble Truth is that life is suffering.  To live, you must suffer.  It is impossible to live without experiencing some kind of suffering.  We have to endure physical suffering like sickness, injury, tiredness, old age and eventually death and we have to endure psychological suffering like loneliness, frustrations, fear, embarrassment, disappointment, anger, etc. -- 作者： DemonEyesKyo -- 發表時間： 2005/08/19 03:24pm I have to disagree with the very first statement (life [bold]is[/bold] suffering). If this is true we should all just end it now. Stop thinking about a reply, just find the closest firearm, carkeys, frisbee, etc.. and end it. It's undeniable that we experience suffering as a result of being alive. It might, however, be more accurate to say that life [bold]entails[/bold] suffering. No one can escape suffering, as the young prince Siddartha found out even though he was living a sheltered life. Life goes on, we're all still here, the world continues to move forward. For me, this is enough evidence that there is more than just suffering. Strolling through the park during the snowy season, birds nesting in newly budding trees, a sea of invigorating green leaves full of life, watching a collage of colours fall off the trees (ok, I like trees). These are just some of the little things I enjoy. Aren't the little things what make life worth living? That is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm not advocating any meaning to life here, just that life != suffering, however suffering is a subset of life. -- 作者： jennifer -- 發表時間： 2005/08/19 03:55pm [這篇文章最後由jennifer在 2005/08/19 03:59pm 第 1 次編輯] [quote][b]下面引用由[u]DemonEyesKyo[/u]在 [i]2005/08/20 03:24am[/i] 發表的內容：[/b] I have to disagree with the very first statement (life is suffering). If this is true we should all just end it now. Stop thinking about a reply, just find the closest firearm, carkeys, frisbee, e ... [/quote] I am just typing the passage from this book as I read it.  It does not reflect my opinion.  As stated in other posts, the whole philosophies of Buddhism is new to me & I am merely sharing what I am reading.  The author's next question expand on the concept about the First Noble Truth.  I am a bit hesitate to type it because it contains some strong statement about other religion.  But if I don't type it, it may not justify his explanation about the First Noble Truth.  So here it is...again, it does not reflect my own opinion.   Question: Isn't this a bit pessimistic?   Answer: The dictionary defines pessmism as "the habit of thinking that whatever will happen wil be bad,' or "The belief that evil is more powerful than good.'  Buddhism teaches neither of these ideas.  Nor does it deny that happiness exists.  It simply says that to live is to experience physical and psychological suffering which is a statement so strue and so obvous that it cannot be denied.  The central concept of most religions is a myth, a legend or a belief that is difficult or impossible to verify.  buddhism starts with an experience, an irrefutable fact, a thing that all know, that all have expererienced and that all are striving to overcome.  Thus Buddhism is the only truly universal religion because it goes right to the core of every individual human being's concern- suffering and how to avoid it. -- 作者： Paolo -- 發表時間： 2005/08/21 02:00pm [這篇文章最後由Paolo在 2005/08/22 02:26am 第 3 次編輯] I think that religion is just a labour-saving convenience so that people don't have to study philosophy ;D -- 作者： DemonEyesKyo -- 發表時間： 2005/08/21 10:01pm All religions are a means to liberate us from the unavoidable suffering in this world (eg. heaven, nirvana). Buddhism requires no less faith or belief than any other religion. It's full of unprovable ideas and concepts that all the same cannot be disproven (eg. buddha, pure lands, enlightnment). I realize that these articles do not reflect your opinion, I'm just putting my point of view in the open :P -- 作者： wingwing -- 發表時間： 2005/08/23 10:41pm [這篇文章最後由wingwing在 2005/08/24 10:56am 第 2 次編輯] [quote][b]下面引用由[u]DemonEyesKyo[/u]在 [i]2005/08/20 03:24am[/i] 發表的內容：[/b] just that life != suffering, however suffering is a subset of life. [/quote] I agree with the above. "Life entails suffering" can be a better statement than the other.  :em06:   Stating "life is suffering" alone gives people an impression of being pessimistic and absolute. While Buddhism indeed encourages people to have compassionate, positive, and optimistic atitutes towards life, although being aware that there are difficulties and suffering in life.  (Some will ask how we can still feel peace in mind and be compassionate, positive, and optimistic even if in difficult situations. This is the wisdom we can learn from Buddhism. ;) ) However, without suffering, we won't realize happiness. If we say "life is suffering" then it automatically implies that life has happiness as well, since without the comparison, happiness has no meaning, and vice versa.   Nonetheless, I've found a better translation of the first nobel truth: [b]  The omnipresence of suffering. [/b]  :em47: -- 作者： wingwing -- 發表時間： 2005/08/23 11:01pm I think the following is a good version to learn about the Four Nobel Truths. http://www.yakrider.com/Buddha/Buddhism.htm   :) -- 作者： DemonEyesKyo -- 發表時間： 2005/08/23 11:58pm Way to go, you just did all of Jennifer's work by posting that link.  :em20: There are many ways of stating the first noble truth, and it's true that we do need happiness to realize suffering and vice versa. This leads to the second noble truth. *drum roll for Jennifer's next thread*    :em47: (btw, I'm j/k, that link is quite good) -- 作者： jennifer -- 發表時間： 2005/08/24 00:07am [quote][b]下面引用由[u]wingwing[/u]在 [i]2005/08/24 11:01am[/i] 發表的內容：[/b] I think the following is a good version to learn about the Four Nobel Truths. http://www.yakrider.com/Buddha/Buddhism.htm   :) [/quote] Thank you so much, wingwing!   :em06: -- 作者： jennifer -- 發表時間： 2005/08/24 00:13am [quote][b]下面引用由[u]DemonEyesKyo[/u]在 [i]2005/08/24 11:58am[/i] 發表的內容：[/b] Way to go, you just did all of Jennifer's work by posting that link.   There are many ways of stating the first noble truth, and it's true that we do need happiness to realize suffering ... [/quote] Hey!  Don't ruin my face!!!   :em52:   I am happy that wingwing post the link.  Save me some time typing.   :em06:  I have been thinking a lot these days.   :em13:  Perhaps enduring the present suffering will help me grow as a person & appreciate happiness in the future. -- 作者： DemonEyesKyo -- 發表時間： 2005/08/24 10:12am j/k = just kidding Even in a time of suffering, do not neglect the happiness that is present and vice versa. Always try your best and be optimistic! (easier said than done  :em06: ) -- 作者： jennifer -- 發表時間： 2005/08/24 04:51pm [quote][b]下面引用由[u]DemonEyesKyo[/u]在 [i]2005/08/24 10:12pm[/i] 發表的內容：[/b] j/k = just kidding Even in a time of suffering, do not neglect the happiness that is present and vice versa. Always try your best and be optimistic! (easier said than done   ) [/quote] Thanks a lot!   :em06: