Suffering Is Not Always Negative
Not all suffering is necessarily a bad thing.
- Sometimes, suffering is the turning point that awakens a person, redirecting their life.
- Suffering makes us pause, reflect, and start living more peacefully.
This doesn’t have to be about reaching enlightenment or any lofty ideals.
- Just changing from being harsh to being kind, from being impatient to being calm, is already a big step forward.
- For example:
“Hey, why has that person become so much calmer lately?”
“Oh my, they used to be so fierce. Now they speak gently and live more mindfully.”
Even this simple change is worth celebrating.
Everyone Has Their Own Suffering
Suffering does not spare anyone:
- The king suffers, the common people suffer.
- The rich suffer, the poor suffer.
- Everyone has their own type of suffering and circumstances.
For example:
- “You have hair, but you suffer from it. I don’t have hair, but I suffer too.
However, I have the advantage of not worrying about tangled hair, and the wind feels cool on my head.”
=> Suffering is a normal part of life; what matters is what we learn from it.
Wisdom Born from Suffering
- A wise person does not fear suffering, but uses it as an opportunity to look inward.
- Suffering can be the starting point for a better life.
- Just like many people who have gone through hardships become deeper and more compassionate.
Final Thought
- Suffering is not always bad – often, it’s the push we need to change.
- Shifting from a life of indulgence to living peacefully is already an achievement.
- Everyone has their own suffering, but also their own joys if they know how to see them.
- Spiritual practice doesn’t require immediate enlightenment; just living kindly and mindfully is enough.
Suffering helps awaken us. What matters is not how we suffer, but how we live after the storm of suffering has passed.
This article is compiled based on a sermon by Venerable Thích Pháp Hoà
The Original Dharma Talk
Suffering Isn’t Always a Bad Thing – Venerable Thich Phap Hoa
Below is his original lesson:
Chưa chắc khổ là không tốt, nhiều khi lại là đỉnh điểm giác ngộ – Thầy Thích Pháp Hoà
