Suffering is the fourth of the Four Thoughts that Transform the Mind, which are fundamental in Buddhist practice, especially in Tibetan traditions.
These thoughts aim to awaken a sense of spiritual urgency and a firm determination to seek true liberation, as well as to cultivate compassion and wisdom.
To penetrate the deep meaning of suffering means to understand the nature of samsara, the wheel of becoming or the wheel of life. Suffering is a constant in this world, manifesting in various forms. Contemplating suffering inspires us to seek ways to end it, both for ourselves and for others. Samsara is marked by the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, which are universal and inevitable experiences for all beings. Even when we achieve material success or experience moments of happiness, change and uncertainty present themselves as constants, generating anxiety and fear about the future.
Suffering is an intrinsic experience to the human condition and can manifest in various ways: physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual. It may arise from traumatic events, significant losses, illnesses, problematic interpersonal relationships, or existential and spiritual issues. It accompanies us from the first breath to the last, regardless of our nationality, wealth, family, race, beliefs, or social status. Suffering is a characteristic of samsara itself and how life is structured in this world.
Life is a constant reminder that suffering is present at all stages of existence. Acquiring a physical body is synonymous with suffering, no matter its form—human, animal, or plant—with only variations in intensity. Our bodies are always subject to disease, aging, and death. Over time, our senses deteriorate, flexibility is lost, and vitality fades. Even our memories gradually disappear, and sooner or later, we will be separated from those we love. All these inevitable processes cause us pain, and few manage to transmute this suffering into enlightenment.
The ordinary person lives trapped by the illusions of physical sensations, relentlessly seeking pleasure and numbing the mind with excess sensory stimuli. In their insatiable pursuit of pleasure, they believe it will lead them to peace and happiness. However, reality is different. Much of our vital energy is consumed in building sandcastles or houses of cards that will inevitably be swept away by the waves or the wind. We dedicate ourselves to the search for a perfect body, under the illusion that the sensual pleasure derived from this will bring us happiness. Yet, aging arrives and destroys this fragile structure, making us suffer.
Even when we consider ourselves healthy and untouchable, just a simple cold can make us feel vulnerable and miserable. Food excesses, overwork, and sleepless nights eventually transform into medical bills and treatments. Time, which seems to fly, turns the indulgences of youth into physical and mental afflictions in middle age, until we reach the later years, full of longing for an irreversible past.
Suffering also manifests in loss. All of us have lost, or will lose, loved ones. The separation caused by death is one of the most painful forms of suffering. Who is free from this? The illusion that death can be a release from suffering is mistaken. Death is not the end but a continuation of the same cycle. Those who accumulate wisdom and practice true spirituality can face death with serenity and even joy, for death reveals who we truly are.
Like death, suffering is not limited to this life. Samsara, with its incessant cycle of birth and death, keeps us bound to this reality, life after life. Even if our individual suffering ceases by some miracle, we cannot ignore the pain of other beings. Suffering is a universal reality, and the real question is: how can we break this incessant cycle?
The answer lies in spiritual awakening. When we become aware of suffering and the limitations of cyclic existence, we are motivated to seek a solution. This recognition is a crucial step toward spiritual awakening, driving us to seek a path that liberates us from the cycle of samsara. In Buddhism, suffering is seen as the First Noble Truth, known as Dukkha, which encompasses physical pain, emotional suffering, and the sense of dissatisfaction that pervades human life.
The Second Noble Truth teaches that suffering has a cause: desire, aversion, and ignorance. The insatiable desire for pleasure, the resistance to pain, and the lack of understanding of the true nature of things perpetuate suffering. However, the good news is that there is a path to the cessation of suffering. Through the development of wisdom, ethics, and the awakening of consciousness, we can transcend the cycle of dukkha and achieve enlightenment, or Nirvana, a state of peace and freedom beyond suffering.
Suffering challenges us not to run away from it, but to expand our understanding, using it as a light that illuminates our path. The more we try to resist pain, the greater our suffering will be. Therefore, we must learn to extract from it the wisdom needed for our transformation and, along the journey, become beacons of light for other seekers.
In summary, the Four Thoughts that Transform the Mind teach us that we are born into a precious yet impermanent world. Our actions are shaped by causality and driven by delusion, yet the potential for wisdom remains ever-present — even as we wander through the suffering and illusions of samsara. Ignorance of the true nature of existence leads us to unvirtuous actions, hindering our happiness, both in this life and in future ones. However, there is a path to liberate ourselves from this karmic prison: the path of dharma, the way of enlightenment. This path is not only intellectual but lived through experience, inner transformation, and the building of the human being.
I hope this text has sparked deep reflections and an invitation to spiritual practice. May we seek enlightenment, transcend suffering, and contribute to peace in the world.
