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Go Back   Spiritual Forums > Religions & Faiths > Buddhism

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  #1  
Old 19-05-2022, 08:06 PM
MidasCloud MidasCloud is offline
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Dukkha, often translated as Suffering, actually means Desire?

Suffering appears to be a mis-translation for Desire:

Also, there is probably a need to input "innate" in front of "desires", in the Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is full of innate desires
2. Unfulfilled innate desires is the source of much distress
3. Innate desires can be satisfactory fulfilled if one knows what they are and how to fulfill them
4. Following a righteous path (by telling yourself "seek a righteous path, and wisdom will be yours", for example), and knowing how there is a right way to do anything, will help one identify and satisfactorily fulfill those innate desires.

More information about the translation here:
https://www.lionsroar.com/who-was-the-buddha/

Thank you for reading, please share your thoughts or opinions.
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  #2  
Old 20-05-2022, 07:25 AM
pixiedust pixiedust is offline
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Don't agree.

When in doubt, refer to the established tradition teachers:

https://amaravati.org/dhamma-books/t...-noble-truths/
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  #3  
Old 20-05-2022, 07:26 AM
pixiedust pixiedust is offline
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THE FIRST NOBLE TRUTH

What is the Noble Truth of Suffering? Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, sickness is
suffering, dissociation from the loved is suffering , not to get what one wants is suffering: in
short the five categories affected by clinging are suffering.

There is this Noble Truth of Suffering: such was the vision, in sight, wisdom, knowing
and light that arose in me about t hings not heard before. This Noble Truth must be
penetrated by fully understanding suffering: such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing
and light that arose in me about things not heard before.

This Noble Truth has been penetrated by fully understanding suffering: such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing and light that arose in me about things not heard before.

[Saÿyutta Nikàya LVI, 11]

The First Noble Truth with its three aspects is: “There is suffering, dukkha. Dukkha
should be understood. Dukkha has been understood.” This is a very skillful teaching
because it is expressed in a simple formula which is easy to remember, and it also
applies to e verything that you can possibly experience or do or think concerning the
past, the present or the future.

Suffering or dukkha is the common bond we all share.

Everybody everywhere suffers. Human beings suffered in the past, in ancient India; they suffer in modern Britain; and in the future, human beings will also suffer... What do we have in common with Queen Elizabeth? – We suffer. With a tramp in Charing Cross, what do we have in common? – Suffering. It includes all levels from the most privileged human beings to the most desperate and underprivileged ones, and all ranges in between. Everybody everywhere suffers. It is a bond we have with each other, something we all understand.
When we talk about our human suffering, it brings out our compassionate
tendencies. But when we talk about our opinions, about what I think and what you think about politics and religion, then we can get into wars.
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  #4  
Old 20-05-2022, 07:28 AM
pixiedust pixiedust is offline
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You can see that the First Noble Truth is not an absolute statement because of the
Fourth Noble Truth, which is the way of non-suffering. You cannot have absolute
suffering and then have a way out of it, can you? That doesn’t make sense. Yet so me
people will pi ck up on the Fi rst Noble Truth and say that the Buddha taught that
everything is suffering.

The Pàli word dukkha means “incapable of satisfying” or “not able to bear or
withstand anything”
: always changing, incapable of truly fulfilling us or making us happy.

The sensual world is like that, a vibration in nature. It would, in fact, be terrible if we did find satisfaction in the sensory world because then we wouldn’t search beyond it; we’d just be bound to it.

However, as we awaken to this dukkha, we begin to find the
way out so that we are no longer constantly trapped in sensory consciousness.

https://www.dhamma.uk/download/678/
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  #5  
Old 20-05-2022, 12:56 PM
Gem Gem is offline
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Nicely said, Pixie. I like rewording the 4NTs, and instead of saying 'there is suffering' as abstract knowledge, saying 'this is suffering' as acknowledgement of the immediate, subjective apprehension.

I think the thread is very interesting, 'desire'. I have no idea what 'innate desire' is, but can maybe break things down in a way that semantically differentiates 'desire' (tanha) from 'suffering' (dukkha).

The Western concept considers aversion and desire to be two different things, but the Eastern concept sees aversion as the desire for something not to be. Aversion (Pali: dosa) is also tanha. They coexist like two sides of the same coin. We use 'tanha' for want or lust and 'dosa' for what we don't want or hate. 'Craving' pertains to both what we want and don't want because, semantics aside, these are inseparable. Hence, we attribute the cause of suffering to aversion-and-desire, or 'craving'.

This contradicts another section which says 'pain is suffering' in that pain is a physical sensation whereas craving, and therefore dukkha, is psychological, but it has been explained that even the heights of pleasant feelings will not be satisfactory, so although 'dukkha' still pertains to the physical pain (or pleasure) in a more abstract way, suffering is completely psychological, especially considering its fundamental origin: ignorance.

In the meditation there can be pain but no suffering because you don't mind and have no aversion toward it (or desire for some other kind of feeling). In this sense pain is not suffering, except to say that no sensation of any kind can be satisfactory.
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  #6  
Old 21-05-2022, 08:06 AM
MidasCloud MidasCloud is offline
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@Gem

Innate desires stay with a person his entire life, such as the desire to improve certain aspects of society, or to become financially independent, or to have a large family with extended family members, etc.

Other desires might be more temporary, such as the desire to vacation or live somewhere else.
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  #7  
Old 21-05-2022, 08:46 AM
sky sky is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MidasCloud
@Gem

Innate desires stay with a person his entire life, such as the desire to improve certain aspects of society, or to become financially independent, or to have a large family, etc.


'INNATE is existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth : native, inborn.'

Imo opinion some 'Desires' are encoded in our DNA and others are personal wants/wishes/longings etc:.....
Buddha taught about various 'Desires' the wholesome and unwholesome and the 'Desire' to rid oneself of all 'Desires'. Without desire we wouldn't be able to survive, so they serve the purpose until we reach the 'Other Shore' and they fall away naturally.
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  #8  
Old 21-05-2022, 09:12 AM
MidasCloud MidasCloud is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sky
'INNATE is existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth : native, inborn.'

Imo opinion some 'Desires' are encoded in our DNA and others are personal wants/wishes/longings etc:.....
Buddha taught about various 'Desires' the wholesome and unwholesome and the 'Desire' to rid oneself of all 'Desires'. Without desire we wouldn't be able to survive, so they serve the purpose until we reach the 'Other Shore' and they fall away naturally.

Reincarnation energy is also associated with innate desire, such as you might be born into a family who is focused on improving society, if your reincarnation energy is one of improving society. Or, if your reincarnation energy is one of financial wealth or independence, then you might be born into a family focused on doing business, etc.
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  #9  
Old 26-05-2022, 05:58 AM
MidasCloud MidasCloud is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gem
Nicely said, Pixie. I like rewording the 4NTs, and instead of saying 'there is suffering' as abstract knowledge, saying 'this is suffering' as acknowledgement of the immediate, subjective apprehension.

I think the thread is very interesting, 'desire'. I have no idea what 'innate desire' is, but can maybe break things down in a way that semantically differentiates 'desire' (tanha) from 'suffering' (dukkha).
"Tanha" can be thought of as Desire-Want, while Dukkha is Desire-Striving.

Suffering has to do with not being able to achieve soul growth or soul development, such as being locked up and deprived of freedom to socialize, learn and explore, or taking drugs and being in an intoxicated state, or even self-harm as in committing suicide, so as not being able to complete a full life experience. (source of information about methods of limiting soul growth and development)

Pain just means that the body is hurting, and there is a decrease in Physical Body Expectation. It's the body's way of saying "No", as in expressing Anger Emotional Repression.

Last edited by Miss Hepburn : 16-06-2022 at 06:57 PM. Reason: Shortened quote as Admin has asked to 2-3 sentences
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  #10  
Old 26-05-2022, 06:08 AM
MidasCloud MidasCloud is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pixiedust
You can see that the First Noble Truth is not an absolute statement because of the
Fourth Noble Truth, which is the way of non-suffering. You cannot have absolute
suffering and then have a way out of it, can you? .
Because "there is a right way to do anything", if you want to live a life of love-happiness, then searching for suffering will not help you. Also, it is not part of "wishing others to find the love of their lives".

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"Reload this Page Due to Reincarnation, if you are an introvert, any extrovert is a potential lover"
https://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/s...d.php?t=143955
"Reincarnating Energy and Innate Desire are Related"
https://www.personalitycafe.com/thre...lated.1368849/
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