Why Do We Suffer? (ritual, reincarnation, beliefs, hell, experience)

[Cynic]

What is the cause of suffering, and it's purpose (if we assume there is one)?
Please share your concept, whether personal or mainstream in theology.

[joeboonda]

I attribute it mainly to the fall of man, as sin entered the world, and the penalty or outcome of sin is death thus decay, sickness, and all that goes along with the fall. It is just a fact, like we have physical laws, we have spiritual laws, and one of those is that the wages of sin is death, thus suffering. Not that one who say, gets cancer did anything to deserve it, they just were born into this now imperfect (due to sin) world. Suffering having a purpose, not generally, but it can have results in making us stronger sometimes, and more empathetic to others who are going through something. That is just a short thot on it anyway.

[Neale]

Suffering (Dukkha) is, for the most part, caused by attachments. Such attachments include, but aren't limited to: material posessessions, status, our own mortality, etc. Only by liberating your consciousness from the necessity you've placed on these attachments can you truly end such "suffering."

[Seraphiel]

Yes and that's why I never send e-mails with attachments. To reduce suffering. (Sorry, sorry, bad joke I know)

[Hema]

Originally Posted by Seraphiel

Yes and that's why I never send e-mails with attachments. To reduce suffering. (Sorry, sorry, bad joke I know)

Hey, it made me laugh. Corny jokes crack me up...probably because I'm corny. I know how it is, you get a corny joke into your head and you just HAVE to release it into the universe.

Anyway, to answer the question, I believe suffering is a result of bad karma which was accummulated from previous births. It doesn't mean that we are predestined to suffer. By doing good now, we can offset past bad karma and generate good karma for the future. Hindus believe in karma and reincarnation because we don't believe in a permanent hell. We believe that all souls come from God and we will all return to him eventually when the cycle of birth and death is broken, when all karma is resolved and we are spiritual enough.

Oh and sometimes we experience difficulties because God is trying to make us learn something. Sometimes, he's like a teacher to us and he needs to test our faith. I suppose just as how friends and lovers should stick together during good times ands bad, God wants to know if we will still trust in him when things get rough.

[ayani]

Originally Posted by Seraphiel

Yes and that's why I never send e-mails with attachments. To reduce suffering. (Sorry, sorry, bad joke I know)

hahaha! no, i like that. that's good.

in my practice whetever i find myself suffering, God willing i take the time to chill and pray. to bring my mind closer to His Word and use the opportunity to reflect and stay mindful.

my faiths asks of me that i turn not from the suffering of others- that i pray for them and lend my hand when ever i can. in this way, their suffering is not ignored either, and hopefully i can bring them out from their troubles a little.

theologically, i do not have an answer for why we suffer. i guess because there is trouble in the world, and because we often respond to the trouble through feeling pain. i do know what my faiths asks me to do in response however, and i try to do my best there.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Hema

Anyway, to answer the question, I believe suffering is a result of bad karma which was accummulated from previous births. It doesn't mean that we are predestined to suffer. By doing good now, we can offset past bad karma and generate good karma for the future. Hindus believe in karma and reincarnation because we don't believe in a permanent hell. We believe that all souls come from God and we will all return to him eventually when the cycle of birth and death is broken, when all karma is resolved and we are spiritual enough.

Oh and sometimes we experience difficulties because God is trying to make us learn something. Sometimes, he's like a teacher to us and he needs to test our faith. I suppose just as how friends and lovers should stick together during good times ands bad, God wants to know if we will still trust in him when things get rough.

Of course, I agree with you Hema, because I share your beliefs of reincarnation.
As an asside, I guess that the 'sufferring' also has an effect on the people around - giving them the option to either help, or turn away from. I often wonder just what 'waves' are caused from singular isolated incidents.

[Hema]

Originally Posted by michel

Of course, I agree with you Hema, because I share your beliefs of reincarnation.
As an asside, I guess that the 'sufferring' also has an effect on the people around - giving them the option to either help, or turn away from. I often wonder just what 'waves' are caused from singular isolated incidents.

When we help others who are suffering, we create good karma for ourselves. I'm not sure what you meant by "singular isolated incidents", can you give an example?

[Djamila]

Bad things happen to good people because only good people can take bad situations and turn them into something great.

I think the more you suffer, the more you're able to truly feel happiness and other positive emotions. It expands your existence, and makes you - emotionally, intellectually - a bigger person than those without comparable experiences.