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The Buddha’s Four Noble Truths are: there is suffering; there is a course of action that generates suffering; suffering ceases (i.e., there is happiness); and there is a course of action leading to the cessation of suffering (the arising of happiness).
Nonhuman animals instinctively know that stopping is the best way to get healed. They don’t need a doctor, a drugstore, or a pharmacist. We human beings used to have this kind of wisdom. But we have lost touch with it. We don’t know how to rest anymore. We don’t allow the body to rest, to release the tension, and heal. We rely almost entirely on medication to deal with sickness and pain. Yet the most effective ways to ease and transform our suffering are already available to us without any prescription
We relive the past, we worry about the future. We don’t stop to take a breath, to even notice if we’re suffering—until suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the suffering overwhelms us.
Breathing in, I know suffering is there. Breathing out, I say hello to my suffering.
One unnecessary suffering that we can let go of is the suffering of fear. So many of us walk around with the pain and agitation of useless fear, whether that is the fear of dying, fear of hunger, injury or loss, fear of what might happen if we do the wrong thing, or fear of being hurt by or of hurting someone we care about.
You are dying now. You have been dying all the time. It’s actually very pleasant to die, which is also to live.
This is something I don't believe I ever thought about. But it does help to bring my focus on the present, to enjoy what I have now.
When we are full of fear, we are often completely focused on preventing the event we dread, and we forget that joy is also possible even in an unpredictable world.
It’s important to remember that everything is impermanent. A suffering can arise—or can work itself out—for anyone at any moment.
This, I definitely never thought of. I only recently learned to accept and view life as impermanent; but that everything is impermanent seems it can really help me face that I won't always have this (whatever this is) and appreciate what I have now. Even if that's pain or suffering, because it came from or will lead to happiness and joy.
When you look at the person you love, if he or she is absorbed in anxiety, you can help that person to get out. “Darling, do you see the sunset? Do you see the spring coming?” This is mindfulness. Mindfulness is for making us aware of what is happening now. Not only are there always conditions of happiness present in me, but they are also all around me.
