That kind of suffering is self-inflicted, based on a belief or concept, not on circumstances themselves. If we didn’t hold the false belief, the suffering wouldn’t exist. This all-pervasive suffering is difficult for us to detect because it requires us to scrutinize our deeply held views, ideas, and beliefs. But when we are able to do that, we gain insight and wisdom into the nature of our own self-inflicted suffering. That’s the first step in releasing its hold on us.
