Life Sux

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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Tree
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Life Sux

Post by Tree »

"Life Sux". Is this a modern and accurate description of the first noble truth?

We are told these days to be Positive. To me that is confirmation that Life Does Suck. But the soluton given is to actively create a state of denial and shift the mind's focus to 'joy/please/thrills'. "BE MORE POSITIVE!" :juggling:

But I believe that Buddha would say: "But guys! Life still sux!". Your delusion/denial is only a bandaid at best.

He is saying that we need to work hard to escape the Life (that Sux) permanently. No mor eendless Kalpas of Re-Births.

So does Life Suck?
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Ben
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Ben »

No
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

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Pannapetar
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Pannapetar »

I doubt this in an accurate interpretation. "Life sucks," sounds more like the assessment of a depressed teenager or a French existentialist who had too much Pernod instead of the word of the Buddha. It would lead to nihilism.

Cheers, Thomas
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retrofuturist
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Re: Life Sux

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

I agree with Ben and Thomas.

Image

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Goofaholix
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Goofaholix »

The Buddha didn't teach that life sux, however that we create suffering for ourselves and others through our attitude.

So you could say perhaps that there is suffering because our attitude sux, the Buddha's teaching is mostly about changing our attitude.
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
Anicca
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Anicca »

Tree wrote:So does Life Suck?
The Big B's Four Realities ala 2010:
1) Sucking exists.
2) Sucking has a start.
3) Sucking has an end.
4) There is a path to the ending of sucking.

So - It doesn't have to - depends on your kamma and how you live it.
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Goofaholix
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Goofaholix »

Anicca wrote:4) There is a path to the ending of sucking.
A new set of false teeth!
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
Anicca
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Anicca »

Goofaholix wrote:
Anicca wrote:4) There is a path to the ending of sucking.
A new set of false teeth!
:toast:
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Dan74
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Dan74 »

Goofaholix wrote:
Anicca wrote:4) There is a path to the ending of sucking.
A new set of false teeth!
:clap:
_/|\_
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Wind
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Wind »

Goofaholix wrote:The Buddha didn't teach that life sux, however that we create suffering for ourselves and others through our attitude.
Actually it's through our craving. And since birth is dukkha, life sux is not that off in my opinion.
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cooran
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Re: Life Sux

Post by cooran »

Hello Tree, all,

The Buddha never taught that "Life is suffering".

He taught that "There is suffering".

with metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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Ben
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Ben »

Thank you Chris for pointing out that very important distinction.
metta

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
Shonin
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Shonin »

Also 'unsatisfactoriness' or 'unreliability' may be a better translation than 'suffering'.
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Sanghamitta »

Shonin wrote:Also 'unsatisfactoriness' or 'unreliability' may be a better translation than 'suffering'.
Or maybe not.
Better to internalise the meaning of Dukkha, as it appears in the context of the Suttas imo.
Just as we all have with "Kamma" or " Metta".
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
Shonin
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Re: Life Sux

Post by Shonin »

Sanghamitta wrote:
Shonin wrote:Also 'unsatisfactoriness' or 'unreliability' may be a better translation than 'suffering'.
Or maybe not.
Better to internalise the meaning of Dukkha, as it appears in the context of the Suttas imo.
Just as we all have with "Kamma" or " Metta".
It was from studying suttas and commentaries on suttas that I arrived at this provisional understanding. Dukkha seems to have a range of meanings which don't always correspond exactly to our concept of 'suffering'.
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