According to Sidhartha Gautama, why is life so difficult and full of suffering?

Answer 1

According to Sidhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, life is difficult and full of suffering due to the presence of "dukkha." Dukkha is a central concept in Buddhism that refers to the inherent unsatisfactoriness or suffering present in life.

The Buddha taught that life is filled with suffering because of three interconnected characteristics: impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and the absence of a permanent self. Impermanence refers to the ever-changing nature of existence, where nothing remains the same and everything is subject to decay and eventual death. This impermanence creates a sense of constant instability and discontentment.

Unsatisfactoriness arises from the human tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The Buddha believed that our desires, attachments, and cravings lead to suffering because they are always temporary and ultimately unfulfilling. No matter how much pleasure or happiness we experience, it is inevitably followed by dissatisfaction or suffering when those conditions change.

Lastly, the Buddha taught that the idea of a permanent self, or the belief in an unchanging essence or soul, is an illusion. He argued that everything is in a constant state of flux, and there is no true, permanent self to be found. This lack of substantiality creates a sense of insecurity and a feeling of being disconnected or detached from our experiences.

Overall, the Buddha believed that the nature of existence itself, with its impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and absence of a permanent self, causes life to be difficult and filled with suffering. However, he also taught that it is possible to overcome this suffering through the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, which leads to the attainment of enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering.