Aspect of Religion: Buddhism

One particularly insightful aspect of Buddhism is Dukkha, often translated as suffering, unsatisfactoriness, or stress. Dukkha is the first of the Four Noble Truths. Intwined dissatisfaction or unease characterizes human life and is caused by individuals’ desires and attachments. According to Dukkha, life is a struggle, whether because of an individual’s physical condition or emotional one, and even enjoyment can bring people pain because it never lasts and is never perfect (Dellios, 2025): Aspect of Religion: Buddhism.

The knowledge of Dukkha motivates people to think more broadly about the roots of their discontent and to discover longer-term means of tranquility. It is a reminder to live mindfully, to reflect, and to develop one’s awareness, kindness, and wisdom in everyday circumstances.

What is particularly useful about Dukkha is its pragmatism about life’s difficulties. Instead of avoiding pain or unease, Buddhism advises people to accept that suffering is a natural state of human existence. This honest acceptance is liberating, shifting the attention from trying to eliminate mountains of pain to moving one’s relationship with it.

According to the Buddha, individuals can decrease the effect of suffering on their lives by understanding the nature of suffering and following the Eightfold Path. This work is a pragmatic way of life consisting of living virtuously, focusing the mind, and acquiring wisdom to slowly but surely turn suffering into peace.

However, the concept of Dukkha can also be puzzling, especially for those not well-versed in Buddhist thought. One common misunderstanding is a pessimistic view of life that Buddhism means life is about only suffering. However, the teaching of Dukkha is not to spread hopelessness but to inspire liberation.

It offers a diagnosis of the human condition and a prescription for healing. Understanding how desire and attachment cause suffering and having a living sense of how that occurs demands personal reflection and spiritual practice. This can help individuals internalize the process and fully appreciate its depth. Dukkha cannot be comprehended overnight, but it can dramatically transform one’s perception of life and suffering.

References

Dellios, R. (2025). From Dukkha to Sukha: Mandalic thinking in constructing a positive peace. Religions, 16(3), 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030369

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Aspect of Religion: Buddhism