Attachment: Stressful and Unsatisfactory – #155

The St. Patrick’s Day post promised attachment from the Buddhist perspective. Let’s see what we can learn.

The Buddha’s first sermon outlined Four Noble Truths. 

The First Noble Truth informs us that life is “Dukkha” – Dukkha a Pali word often translated as suffering. More modern translations prefer the words stressful or unsatisfactory.  

Why do Buddhists believe life is unsatisfactory?

The Second Noble Truth answers that question with our word attachment! When we are attached to people or things and they change or die, we are stressed and dissatisfied.  We suffer.

Our tendency as humans is to become attached to things we like.  If you’ve been paying attention you know that everything ends and everything changes.

The photo: Tulip petals from gift bouquet for Easter.  

What does that have to do with Buddhism? Easter is a Christian holiday isn’t it?

The petals represent impermanence, an important concept for Buddhists.  

Is your life satisfactory? Are you stressed? What do you think of the idea that life is unsatisfactory/suffering? Do you like this definition of attachment? Let us know by replying to this email or going to the blog and making a comment.

Thanks for exploring the mystery – Nicky Mendenhall