Dukkha , duhkha ( Sanskrit दुःख , duḥkha IAST ; literally. “Soreness, trouble”) is a term usually transmitted from the languages of Pali and Sanskrit as “suffering” . It plays a central role in Buddhism , where the Four Noble Truths about suffering are taught as the key to achieving the ultimate goal - nirvana , liberation from suffering. Along with anitya and anatman there are three signs of existence .
Content
Translation Features
The term “dukkha” can hardly be translated as actually “suffering”. Dukkha means "impatience, inconstancy, intolerance." Many researchers ( F. I. Shcherbatskaya , V. N. Toporov ) protest against the literal ( traced ) translation. Shcherbatskaya notes the meaninglessness of such expressions as “the element of vision is suffering”, and suggests translating “duhkha” as “restlessness” or “excitement”. Toporov, analyzing the Pali “dukkha” similar to the Sanskrit “duhkha”, notes that this word in the Pali texts ( Samyut-Nikaya , for example) characterizes “pleasant”, “unpleasant”, “neutral” and suggests translating the term “dukkha” as “restless” dissatisfaction". V.I. Rudoi notes that any samsaric enjoyment includes the following elements: insufficient intensity of enjoyment compared to expected, its transience, pain of its loss, painful desire to repeat it. The basis of these elements is dissatisfaction. .
If the essence of samsara is suffering, then the essence of nirvana is bliss, and Buddhism avoids such an interpretation of the concept of nirvana (at least in Theravada ), offering to consider it eternal rest. Thus, the essence of samsara is restlessness, not suffering. You may recall that the Tibetans translated the word “ yoga ” (connection, connection) into their language with the word “naljor”, meaning “tranquility”.
Classification
- The suffering of suffering is actually suffering in itself, as we understand it in the everyday sense: physical and mental pain of everyday life, fear , depression , etc.
- The suffering of change appears due to the variability of the world, its inconstancy. Usually we perceive this kind of suffering as pleasure, but in reality it is only a relief of pain. For example, after we froze, we strive for heat, and the first time when the suffering of cold and the suffering of heat are about the same, we experience the suffering of change, but later the suffering of heat intensifies and leads us to search for the cold. In the same way, we are looking for a new life partner, a new job, a new country of residence, etc. Therefore, the inner nature of such experiences of pleasure is painful.
- All-pervasive suffering arises from ignorance or delusion regarding the nature of reality. This is a deeper level of suffering - the suffering of pervasive conditioning. Our mind and body are influenced by karma (tendencies generated by our past actions), as well as under the influence of destructive, barren emotions - such as attachment and hatred. In ordinary life, we come from the comprehensive sphere of influence of karma and destructive emotions in order to be in it again. Even neutral emotional states are not free from the influence of causes and circumstances that a person cannot control. Man is involved in a process involving suffering.
In Hinduism
The word duḥkha is used in one of the names epithets of Shiva - dāridrya-duḥkha-dahana - "the destroyer of poverty and misery." This name is used in dāridrya-duḥkha-dahana śiva stotra Vasishtha Muni (Poverty-destroying misfortunes Sivastotra Vasishtha Muni).
See also
- Karma
- Anitya
- Need
Links
- Paribok A. V. Methodological aspects of Buddhism // Educational profile program “Indian Culture” at the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies of the East, St. Petersburg State University