Human suffering
The First Truth is that suffering, pain, and misery exist in life. The Second Truth is that this suffering is caused by selfish craving and personal desire. The Third Truth is that this selfish craving can be overcome. The Fourth Truth is that the way to overcome this misery is through the Eightfold Path.
There is no divine purpose in suffering.
. The idea of a God who sees some use in people being in physical pain, or traumatised emotionally, or having their lives wrecked by natural diasters or fellow human beings is warped theology. Self-inflicted suffering is even worse.
I despair at those who claim that through suffering God is “teaching us something very meaningful” – whether of the unexpected powers of endurance of those affected or the hidden depths of compassion of those who respond. Yes, these may be incidental by-products of suffering, bu