Download Human Suffering - Shawna Thibodeau

 CLASS 3: Dukkha (Human Suffering) ‘DUKKHA’ = Buddhist term for “suffering”, “stress”,
“anxiety”, “unsatifactoriness”, “pain ”, “sadness” L
~ THE BUDDHA’S FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS ~ 1. Life has inevitable suffering. “Birth is stressful, aging is stressful, death is stressful; sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair are stressful; association with the unbeloved is stressful, separation from the loved is stressful, not getting what is wanted is stressful.” – Buddha 2. There is a cause to our suffering. The origin of suffering is attachment to the three kinds of desire: 1. Ignorance – ignoring the reality that life does have some suffering 2. Attachment – desire to always have sense of pleasure, desire to have a sense of self 3. Aversion – to get rid of/never feel negative feelings, negative experiences ***The origin of suffering is attachment to desire – wanting things to be different. 3. There is an end to suffering. There is a way to lessen suffering! 4. The end to suffering is to follow the Buddha’s eight-­‐fold path: right understanding (understand and accept that life has ups and downs, pain and suffering), right thought (thinking without attachment & desire), right speech (truth), right action (kind), right livelihood (respect and have gratitude for life), right mindfulness (being mindful of your thoughts and actions), right concentration (meditative activities), right effort (practicing changing your perspectives) ~ HOW TO DECREASE SUFFERING ~ 1. Notice when you’re increasing your suffering • Notice when you’re wishing things were different • Notice when you’re attached to desires: Wanting a slimmer body, wanting a boyfriend/husband, wishing husband was tidier, wishing you didn’t have to go to work, wishing your children were acting differently, etc, etc. •
2. Switch to an accepting state of mind • Choose to accept the present moment as it is • Choose to let go of desire • Choose to let go of the need for things to be different • Choose to be mindful in the present moment • Choose to see things in love & gratitude Choose to make choices in the present that are healthy, peaceful and freeing www.shawnathibodeau.com © Copyright 2015 Be Free by Shawna Thibodeau Inc. All rights reserved.