Part of my test was to write an essay regarding human suffering...I thought it might make an excellent blog.
Question 1: The Buddha offers a specific
diagnosis of the suffering that is part of human existence. Explain the
Buddha's diagnosis. Does this diagnosis ring true to you, or has the Buddha
ignored some aspect of human life, or made some other mistake? Offer two specific
reasons or experiences that support your answer, and explain how they support
it.
Buddha referred to the cravings/needs cycle as “attachment”. In psychology, this is known as the hedonic treadmill.
If peace is
what we desire, detachment from “things” is required.
We are all
fighting a neurological battle that has been forged by millions of years of
natural selection. Our brain was hardwired in a much different world; food was
scarce, safety was a concern, and reproduction was a must.
The drive
for Survival and reproduction is ironically dependent on human suffering. Because we suffer, we are never
satisfied. Because we are never
satisfied, we stay motivated to survive and reproduce.
I believe
the diagnosis is right on because it is supported by evolutionary biology. The Buddha basically predicted what science
has confirmed.
For example:
In my
younger years, my expectations were unrealistic. I thought that buying_____
would make a long term difference in my state of mind. The reality showed me
otherwise…the short term excitement (dopamine) was fleeting. It was at that
point I realized that we always come back to a certain level of consciousness.
(I.e. sad, up/down, content)
As Buddha
pointed out...”If you’re not happy
without, you won’t be happy with”
Owning a
business has also taught me that suffering is necessary until “I” decide it’s
not necessary. Becoming angry because someone didn’t show up to work only hurts
me. What’s happened has happened, and no
amount of anger is going to change the present moment. The instant I become
aware of this fact, suffering is no longer an issue.The awareness of suffering is the recognition of primordial cravings in a modern world that has been created by natural selection. Dukkha is and will always be a cognitive conundrum for all conscious creatures.
Hence, the
wisdom of Buddha and the irony of evolution.