Suffering

[weasel]

for my philosophy class i am doing a music video and presentation, the idea I'm looking at is human suffering. i have narrowed what I'm going to cover to two questions
1. Do we as humans have to suffer?
2. Is there a way to end suffering, that's practical?*

i would like some answers and opinions on this subject

the song that I'm making the video is sorrow by bad religion
YouTube - Bad Religion- Sorrow
there is a link to the song and for those who don't know the song is an allegory to the story of job http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Job, but please lets not make this a religious argument


* i say that's practical because one quick and easy answer is to say "to die" but that is a very impractical way to end suffering since if you are right, then you are dead, well your dead even if your wrong.

[LickMyGamete]

Originally Posted by weasel

2. Is there a way to end suffering, that's practical?*

Yeah, if people stop suffering and start grieving.

I'm sorry I got nothing. Goodluck!

[EvilEvilKitten]

You might want to study ancient Greek philosophers who debated this topic in depth. Epicurus comes to mind so begin with him.

I don't think you can live without suffering some pain sometime but then, I'm female and suffering can be expected once a month between ages 11 and 55 and with children.

[mikkiji]

The Buddha taught what his followers called "The Four Noble Truths", the first three of which are; 1) Life is suffering, 2) Suffering is due to attachment, 3) Attachment can be overcome. According to the Buddha, existence involves suffering. The word he used was 'dukkha', which means 'unsatisfactoriness', but is normally translated as 'suffering'. He taught that nothing in this world - material (such as delicious food, music, beautiful bodies, etc.), and mental (such as emotions, feelings, etc.) - is able to fully satisfy us, none can bring us real peace. Things are unable to fully satisfy us because they are impermanent, they are constantly changing.

Anything that is constantly changing cannot be said to be able to bring lasting happiness.

The cause of suffering is craving, but we don't suffer because things are impermanent, we suffer because we want things to be other than they are; we suffer because of our craving and desire. Lucky for us, he also taught that cravings can be overcome and suffering ended by discovering the True Nature of the inner Self and thus arriving at Nirvana.

Michael

[EvilEvilKitten]

Just existing is not good enough regardless of Bhudda. not when one can live. The acceptance of suffering, Stoicism, yields better results than just dying inside and becoming a mere shell of a person.

[lnt1103]

Originally Posted by LickMyGamete

Yeah, if people stop suffering and start grieving.

Actually, I think you're on the right track, but I'd take it a step further. For me, the key is using adversity toward good. At the very least, being able to see it that way. Whichever famous coach said, 'life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it,' made a very good point.

I've been through some things. I won't go into incredible detail, but let's just leave it at this: when I was in high school my older brother died in a car accident way too young (contributing to me taking 15 extra years to get my driver's license), and I spent 4 months completely blind about 4 years ago. T says lots of people would have 'checked out' of my life long ago.

He also told me that the first time his parents met me two years ago, they got back in their car after dinner at the restaurant, looked at each other, grinned and said a simultaneous 'wow'.

Call it suffering if you wish, I call it simply: part of me-part of who I am.

I believe very firmly that our experiences--both pleasurable and not--form us into the people that we become. I love who I am today(and luckily for me, so does T ), and the bottom line is, my blindness and Aaron's death helped contribute to this person that sits at this computer right now. And so while I'd give anything to have him back, or to regain the portion of my sight that the surgeon wasn't able to restore, I wouldn't trade those EXPERIENCES for all the gold they're trying to sell on TV.

[EvilEvilKitten]

Agreed, Int.
Develops character, dontcha know.

[weasel]

YouTube - And Humanity Cries this was the video that me and my partner made for the class, if you need any of the pictures explained just ask

[EvilEvilKitten]

However, there is always Epicurus. Perhaps his philosophy will help you.