The material world is woven from suffering in the same way that distant stars are woven from light. For many, this may not seem obvious at all. “Yes, I don’t suffer,” one can often hear in response to the fact that the material world is full of suffering. “There is suffering,” this is the first of the so-called “Four Noble Truths” taught by Shakyamuni Buddha.
Why do some people think that they do not suffer? Often a person simply gets used to suffering, and his psyche, trying to adapt to the process of constant suffering, simply ceases to be aware of it. For a person, cause and effect are too extended in time. And it gets to the funny point: a person who has been drinking alcohol for 20-30 years then wonders why his health is so bad? Often a person is not able to connect cause and effect. Therefore, the question is precisely that most people experience suffering, but do not consider themselves to be the cause of it. And this is a very destructive point of view. If a person considers the external world and external facts to be the cause of his suffering, he becomes a kind of toy in the hands of fate.
Pleasure and pain are inseparable
The material world is like a river. A river does not have a constant shape: it changes every moment. The same thing happens in the material world: the flow of life constantly brings changes. The endless cycle of birth and death, creation and destruction is manifested in everything. And this is precisely the cause of suffering: in the material world there is not a single state that could be fixed for a long time. The first brick laid in the foundation of a house already starts the process of its destruction even before the house is completed. The birth of a person already starts the process of aging and dying. Any person who has some experience of owning his own business knows that no business can exist forever, developing according to the pattern: development - peak - decline. And so it is in everything.
Why are pleasures the same as suffering?
All for the same reason: the fickleness of the world. Any desire for pleasure will end in one of two ways: either the destruction/disappearance of the object of pleasure, or satiety/loss of interest in the object of pleasure.
You can give an example that will be understandable to many. Cake is a harmful but delicious food that we eat solely for pleasure. Spoon, second, third. And then one of two things happens: either the cake runs out, or the appetite runs out. Moreover, in the second case, this appetite most often ends in overeating. In both cases we get suffering. Thus, any pleasure is already the beginning of suffering.
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Another interesting example: heat and cold. Severe frost can cause suffering. When winter ends, we experience a kind of pleasure when we warm up. But the paradox is that warmth is also suffering. And only because at the moment the suffering from cold is higher than the suffering from heat, we experience some kind of temporary pleasure. But as soon as suffering from heat and suffering from cold become equal, and then spring is replaced by hot summer, we will already experience suffering from heat. Thus, only this short moment, when two oppositely directed sufferings balance each other, can be called short-term illusory happiness. But it is important to understand: if we depend on external conditions, then our happiness is as fragile as bubbles on the water.
Pleasure vs. Satisfaction. What is the difference?
Why do adults have to work hard for the sake of happiness, why do they have to win their happiness? Where, so to speak, does “carefree childhood go”?
The point is that pleasure and satisfaction are two different things. And if for children they often coincide, then for adults they do not.
What is the difference? First of all, in spontaneity with pleasure (remember - childish spontaneity) and indirectness with satisfaction. Difficult? Let's keep it simple.
Pleasure is a positive (pleasant) experience directly related to the perception of a situation (usually related to the satisfaction of a need). The opposite of pleasure is discomfort, and in the extreme, pain.
And satisfaction is a positive experience that arises as a result of a rational assessment of the situation (“He looked and said that it was good!”). The opposite of satisfaction is disappointment, scientifically called frustration.
We can say this: pleasure and discomfort are emotional reactions to the correspondence of what is happening to a person’s inclinations, desires, and habits. And satisfaction and disappointment are reactions to the correspondence of what is happening to one’s goals and values.
And generally speaking! Pleasure is an emotionally charged sensation, while satisfaction is a feeling (“a feeling of deep satisfaction”). Emotions are born by themselves, and feelings arise as a synthesis of emotions and reason. For example, love is a feeling, and passion (falling in love) is an emotion. Do you feel the difference?
Pleasure and pain are inherent in both animals and even plants, but satisfaction and disappointment are purely human phenomena. And the more mature a person is, the greater the role played for him not by pleasure, but by satisfaction.
And, as we have already said, satisfaction is where there is overcoming. Where the meaning is. Where the goals are. Otherwise, disappointment will “eat up” all the pleasure received outright (those who tried to quit smoking and then broke down will understand me - the pleasure from smoking a cigarette is colossal, but the disappointment is the same; the overall result is sadness, sadness, melancholy). For an adult, living based only on a child’s “I want” is unproductive. I think the phrase “be like children, but don’t be children” is about this.
But, nevertheless, the animal part in a person is strong and the mixture of these aspirations - for pleasure and for satisfaction - creates a unique character pattern of a person, which is most clearly manifested in life strategies.
Author: Andrey Stegantsev
Samskaras - causes of suffering
One of the great yoga practitioners, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, wrote in his treatise “Four Chapters on Liberation”:
Both pleasure and pain are painful. Four Chapters on Liberation, Sutra 2.15
And further in explaining this idea, he Fr. You can read more about samskaras and kleshas here.
In the material world, every action has a reverse side. Let's take an example with the same alcohol. There is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol in itself, if not for the consequences that it causes: inappropriate behavior, addiction, ruined health, and so on. Thus, wanting to get pleasure (dubious, it must be said) from taking this drug, a person simply ignores the fact that this action has a downside. You can often hear from some people: “I consciously drink alcohol.” Nowadays it’s generally fashionable to be conscious and do everything consciously. But this is another trick of the mind. Conscious drinking of alcohol is when a person is fully aware that at the moment he is ruining his health and creating a reason for his suffering. And no person in his right mind, realizing this, would drink alcohol.
This is the most striking example, but it’s like that in everything. Every pleasure has a downside. Sweets spoil teeth, lethal food creates fear and destruction of health, computer games cripple the psyche, and so on. And it all begins, of course, very rosy and fabulous. Few people think about visiting the dentist while eating candy.
Suffering: can it be avoided?
The question may arise: “Everything is clear about suffering, but what to do and who, exactly, is to blame?” The answer to the second part of the question is extremely simple: we only have ourselves to blame for everything that happens to us. It’s pleasant/unpleasant, convenient/inconvenient to admit it, but it’s a fact. The law of karma exists whether anyone believes in it or not.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati in the next sutra of his treatise (2.16) writes: “Future suffering can be avoided.” Buddha Shakyamuni also spoke about this in his third of the Four Noble Truths: “Suffering can be stopped”; but the second truth says that “suffering has a reason.” And this is the key to liberation from suffering.
We live in a mathematically fair world. Here nothing can exist without a reason. Therefore, by eliminating the cause, we can eliminate suffering itself. If the seed of suffering is not planted in the soil, it cannot germinate. Buddha Shakyamuni once spoke about the three main causes of suffering, which give rise to all other causes: attachment, anger and ignorance.
. Moreover, ignorance is considered the root of all suffering.
In this case, ignorance can be understood as a lack of understanding of the basic principles of the universe, as well as identification of oneself with the material body and sense organs. It is this identification that creates the dependence of our peace of mind on external conditions. By identifying ourselves with the material body and sense organs, we begin to divide all phenomena into pleasant and unpleasant, which in turn gives rise to attachment to the pleasant and aversion to the unpleasant. Both ultimately lead to suffering.
Pleasure in load
“The success of fitness lies in systematic exercise.” Easy to say, much harder to do. Moreover, there are more than enough reasons to justify the irregularity of training: there is not enough time, the subscription is too expensive, there is no quick result, the coach is not satisfied, the club is not liked.
However, the main reason we quit fitness classes is lack of motivation. In order to play sports regularly, willpower alone is not enough; training should bring us closer to our goal and bring pleasure.
So, the most common factors due to which we, despite everything, do not give up fitness.
- Pure thrill
Pleasure, as you know, is an ideal motivation. During fitness classes, the body stimulates the production of endorphins - “hormones of happiness”. And how else can you explain why, after several months of regular exercise, many people begin to be drawn to the gym, and skipping a workout causes discomfort?
The ability to experience pleasant sensations from physical activity is developed gradually, provided that the appropriate training is chosen.
A spoon of tar
Getting physical pleasure from fitness is ensured by regularity and duration of exercise, but how to motivate yourself before this wonderful period arrives?
In addition, not all people are equally inclined to develop a positive “dependency”. Some researchers are convinced that enjoyment of fitness is more characteristic of women. Others argue that physical exercise brings joy if a person has been accustomed to moving and enjoying it since childhood.
- Another reality
At work you are a businesswoman, a biscuit in a skirt, and in dance class you are a carefree nymph. At work you are an assistant to the system administrator, a free application for computers, and at the fitness club you are a crazy Amazon. Discovering qualities in yourself that were never discovered except in the gym is a huge psychological boost.
A spoon of tar
Problems begin when fitness life becomes too isolated from everyday life. Over time, real life suits you less and less, and fitness turns into a way to escape from reality. Of course, such an escape is much better than abusing strong drinks or hanging out on virtual networks, but it does not add peace of mind. Dissatisfaction with life does not go away; on the contrary, it only becomes stronger in contrast.
There are two ways out. Or say goodbye to such a pleasant little outlet. Or find a place for fitness in everyday life. For example, involve your partner and friends in it, learn to behave in a new way not only in the fitness room, but also outside it. A typical example is Richard Gere’s hero from the film “Let’s Dance,” who manages to incorporate his “dance” skills into his family life and relationships with colleagues.
- New acquaintances
This is another element of fitness that can keep you engaged in your workouts. Romantic and friendly connections that begin in fitness centers are quite commonplace.
A spoon of tar
Going to a fitness center with the goal of meeting someone or filling your loneliness is a bit of a risky activity for both exercise and dating. Thoughts about how attractive you look, whether everyone sees you in such a favorable light, whether you are in the right place where you can meet the one you want, will lead you far from fitness...
- Image
Going to the gym is practically part of your dress code. You go to maintain your image, so it is important to choose the right club, the right fashionable fitness, the right outfit, etc. Talking about fitness and discussing exercises is a test of your status, so you also read the right fitness magazines. There is not much pleasure from this, but there is more than enough moral satisfaction.
A spoon of tar
What risks does someone who engages in fitness take to maintain their status? First of all, your health: both physical and psychological. For the sake of fashion and the accepted understanding in your environment that there is a “correct” fitness, you run the risk of doing something that is not suitable for you both in terms of your type and physical condition.
Moreover, coercion through generally accepted standards leaves no room for other motivations. By succumbing to social pressure, you can become completely deaf to your desires, especially since fitness desires affect many other areas of life - emotional well-being, self-acceptance.
- Countdown
A fairly common motivation for doing fitness is the desire to regain what has been lost: previous physical shape, slimness, strength, endurance, etc.
A spoon of tar
It's surprising how many people believe that after 25 years of age, progressive development ends. So if you want to be in demand, be kind enough to stay in the age range of 20-25. At the same time, studies by psychologists and physiologists prove that a person develops (including physically) almost up to the age of fifty. For example, the best periods for developing coordination of movements and discovering new sensory resources are 35-37 and 47-48 years.
So maybe, instead of tormenting yourself with comparisons with the past, torturing yourself in the gym and waiting in vain for the return of youth, it makes sense to discover something new in yourself? Good fitness is not only a means of rejuvenation, but also a way to experience the delights of any age.
Work on mistakes
It happens that a person is initially determined to exercise regularly, but after two or three lessons he gives up training. Apparently, he made one of the mistakes that reduces motivation.
Mistake 1: Comparison
Don’t compare yourself – neither with the coach nor with other trainees. Comparing what's in your favor and what's against you diminishes your enjoyment of the activity. “I’m older than everyone else,” “I remember faster, but the environment around me sucks,” “I’ll never learn the way he does it”—these thoughts can take you far from your training goals.
Fitness is a performance that you stage yourself or together with a trainer, but the main elements of this production are: you, your body, the space of movement and, perhaps, all sorts of devices from a fitball to a simulator. There is no need to include other people in your fitness play - the trainer is your co-author, but nothing more.
Mistake 2. Fear of making a mistake
Don’t vow to yourself not to make mistakes – in fact, why not? But don’t miss your mistakes either - just don’t generalize or make value judgments (“I’m just an elephant”, “my legs don’t bend”), but try to understand what exactly you can’t do and why? Are you tired of the pace and abundance of movements? Can't combine movements with different parts of your body? Is it more difficult to repeat movements in one direction than in the other? Solving a problem is much easier if you understand what it is.
Mistake 3: Too much load
As they say, you got caught up in fitness, had a blast for three or four hours, and then the excess of lactic acid got to you... Painful sensations do not leave your memory for a long time, and the body itself slows down before the thought “should I go to the sports club again? " Each overtraining weakens the motivation to continue exercising. Therefore, either thoroughly prepare for overtraining, especially if you don’t need much to feel all the delights of tired muscles, or dose the load.
Mistake 4. Ignoring poor health
Do not exercise when you are sick or feel unwell. If we are talking about premenstrual syndrome or a bad mood, allow yourself to exercise according to a lighter program or simply praise yourself for being able to crawl out of your condition and get to the gym.
Be sensitive to yourself - and you will get exactly what you want.
The cause of our suffering is our desires
Every living being wants to avoid suffering and achieve happiness. The problem is that most people do not understand the nature of their suffering. Not being able to get what they want, they believe that the problem is the impossibility of getting what they want, and not the desire itself. The simplest example: a huge number of people do not have a car at their disposal. But this fact causes suffering only to those of them who have such a desire. Thus, by eradicating the causes of suffering (attachment, anger and ignorance), one can find happiness, which is important, independent of external conditions.
There is no happiness equal to peace
Buddha Shakyamuni
Peace should be understood as liberation from all passions, desires and attachments. After all, suffering occurs due to two desires: the desire to receive something pleasant and the desire to avoid something unpleasant. When we perceive everything that happens with equanimity, suffering stops. And deep peace sets in. Any passion or material desire is a restlessness, which we try to eliminate by eating something, buying something, indulging in some kind of entertainment, and so on. When deep peace is achieved, it is as if we are standing on a high cliff, below which waves of passions splash powerlessly.
Great teachers of the past warned people against extreme fanaticism. The desire to practice, comprehend the Truth, share knowledge, help others, the desire to maintain one’s health - all these are constructive desires that do not entail suffering. Therefore, it is important not to go to extremes: we must be able to separate those desires that lead us to the light and those that plunge us into the darkness of suffering.
