You're still likely to become old, wrinkled, and probably disabled, (and maybe obese too) even if you do become "liberated"!
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Perhaps old age, sickness and death motivate towards the path.
Many people chose many different paths unless you are a Buddhist with the knowledge of Noble Eightfold Path.
For a nihilist even the three signs are not enough to arise Samvega.
In modern society it is very difficult to arise Samvega due to medicine, plastic surgery and pain killers even the availability of euthanasia.
And yet chronic disease is on the rise. Obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc. And mentally there's still depression, still feelings of void, etc. There are people that are poor and stuck in dead end jobs they hate leading to humdrum misery, but also fabulously wealthy and popular individuals who despite all they have are still miserable. There are even those who have middling wealth, and yet are stuck on a treadmill of either trying to get more wealth or more esteem, but never feeling quite full leading to a more subtle misery.
Decreasing suffering is a noble endeavor because there are never ending sources of misery elsewhere. There's no shortage of people who have loss of meaning in their life.
Look at what is happening in the USA and other countries.
In the midst of a pandemic, people are preparing for war!!!!
Where is Samvega?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
In my case, contemplation of aging and decay, neither Asubha or Paṭikkūlamanasikāra, do not lead to samvega. The same as contemplating rotten flowers doesn't lead to lack of admiration for the fresh and beautiful flowers.
So far that doesn't work for me
Last edited by suriyopama on Sat Jan 16, 2021 2:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Perhaps old age, sickness and death motivate towards the path.
Many people chose many different paths unless you are a Buddhist with the knowledge of Noble Eightfold Path.
For a nihilist even the three signs are not enough to arise Samvega.
In modern society it is very difficult to arise Samvega due to medicine, plastic surgery and pain killers even the availability of euthanasia.
And yet chronic disease is on the rise. Obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc. And mentally there's still depression, still feelings of void, etc. There are people that are poor and stuck in dead end jobs they hate leading to humdrum misery, but also fabulously wealthy and popular individuals who despite all they have are still miserable. There are even those who have middling wealth, and yet are stuck on a treadmill of either trying to get more wealth or more esteem, but never feeling quite full leading to a more subtle misery.
Decreasing suffering is a noble endeavor because there are never ending sources of misery elsewhere. There's no shortage of people who have loss of meaning in their life.
Look at what is happening in the USA and other countries.
In the midst of a pandemic, people are preparing for war!!!!
Where is Samvega?
History is riddled with disease and war. Where was Samvega back then?
I think when the war or pandemic the Samvega arises but people do not know what to do.
They do not have a solution.
The solution for the war is to outnumber the enemy, not the compassion as Buddha said, or hide your head in the sand denying everything.
This is why you have to hear the Dhamma from someone for the Samvega to arise and direct in the right direction.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”