We are in a unique place in history. We can look back over the last three thousand years to see how people lived: it becomes clear that war, famine and disease have been with us for the entire history of the human race. For this reason we can say suffering has also been with us.  

Over twenty-six hundred years ago a man, Siddhartha Gautama, who would become known to the world as the Buddha, became perplexed by the amount of suffering (Pali dukkha or Sanskrit duhkha - translated as suffering, discontent or unsatisfactoriness) he saw around him. Because he was a sensitive man, this suffering affected him deeply.  His response was to enter upon a religious quest to find the answer as to why the world was filled with suffering. After seven years he found the solution as to why people suffered, and at the same time he stopped suffering himself.    

       When he began, old age, sickness and death were the focus of his quest. He soon realized suffering was attached to almost every human endeavor and experience. People not only suffered under these conditions, but they became unhappy over myriad other things.  For example, people became unhappy over food: when they couldn't have enough or a certain food; when the food was not prepared as they liked it; when food was cold when it should have been hot - or hot when it should have been cold; or when food was too salty, too bitter, too sweet, or just bland.

       This may not seem as important as old age, sickness or death, but think: when was the last time you were in a bad mood because of the condition of the food you were eating? Have you ever gone out for a meal only to have the evening ruined because of the way food was prepared or served? Have you ever gone to the refrigerator for something only to find that it has spoiled? And how did you feel when your anticipation of something good to eat or drink, was thwarted?  This is the everyday suffering that Siddhartha came to understand when he awakened and became the Buddha.

       His understanding was expressed when he taught that suffering and discontent came about because of desire and attachment. When we desire a cold soda and there are none, we become unhappy. We are unhappy when we have a Coke hidden in the back of the refrigerator to drink as we watch our favorite television show, and our daughter finds and drinks it. This unhappiness is a form of suffering.

       Just ask your family what kind of mood you are in when this takes place. To be in a bad mood is to suffer; for sure, you are not happy. Under the right circumstances, you may share your mood and make everyone around you unhappy: shared suffering.

       The Buddha taught for forty-five years after his enlightenment. He taught that to look in the refrigerator for a Coke was fine but when none is to be found to let go of desire: have something else to drink. Not as easy as it sounds, but still possible with practice. He taught that when we are sick and want to be well to simply be sick. Of course we should take care of ourselves, take medicine and rest, but we should not lie in bed and suffer because we are sick. He taught to accept aging as a natural phenomenon over which we have little or no control.

       And he taught that death was the last great opportunity to not suffer. No one has ever been able to escape death, but few go to it joyfully. When it was time for the Buddha to die, he gathered his disciples around, gave them their final instructions, said good-bye, and was gone. Statues of him at this moment always show the same smile on his face that he had while sitting in meditation - the smile of contentment and peace.

       When a great Zen master's time came for him to die, he said,

"Do not mourn for me, the great adventure begins,"

and he passed away.  For that Zen master, as for the Buddha, the great adventure began every day, with every breath.