from Tantric Mysticism of Tibet…John Blofeld
the concept of "Suffering"
"As we have seen, the Buddhist term 'duhkha', of which 'suffering' is the usual translation, actually has a much wider connotation. Perhaps 'unsatisfactoriness' is closer, but it lacks the force to cover all the meanings of duhkha, which include giving rise to disappointment, disillusion, discontent, longing, desire, aversion, loss, sorrow, anxiety, shame, pain, decay, illness, death and many more. Whereas impermanence and lack of own being are passive qualities, 'suffering' (i.e. giving rise to suffering) relates to the action of one entity upon another. To be without or to have too little of something we desire is suffering, to be forced to put up with what we dislike is suffering; the diminution or loss of our loved ones, powers and possessions is suffering; and the disenchantment which so often follows the fulfillment of desire is suffering. Of course, physical, mental and emotional satisfactions frequently give us joy, but joy can seldom balance duhkha; disillusion is commoner than ecstasy; most joys pall with frequent repetition and may give place to boredom or disgust; moreover it is our nature to be discontented with our gains and to set our targets ever higher. Want feeds on the satisfaction of want. Snatching at what we took to be nuggest of gold, we find ourselves grasping a handfull of autumn leaves that turn to dust in our hands. During most of our waking hours we are plagued with a vague or explicit need for something or other, big or small, to complete the happiness of the moment. This desire can now and then be quenched, but not for long. Perhaps it could be said that duhkha is the 'sense of lacking', i.e. lacking whatever it is that is needed for our full enjoyment now or in the future."
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