Suffering, in essence, does not truly exist on its own; rather, it is a state that we create for ourselves. There are only events in life which results either in pleasure or pain. Pain is a natural state and a reaction to a situation that is not favourable. It could be either physical or emotional. It is inevitable. Suffering is dwelling on that pain and amplifying the experience of pain through thought. In this way, suffering is not an inherent part of any event, but rather something we create through our continued focus and rumination on pain.
Pleasure and pain are both integral aspects of life, and as human beings, we have little choice but to endure them as they occur. This idea is reflected in the teachings of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, in the Verse 14 of Chapter 2:
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः ।
आगमापायिनोऽनित्या स्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥ २-१४॥
mātrāsparśāstu kaunteya śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkhadāḥ
āgamāpāyino’nityā stāṃstitikṣasva bhārata 2-14
“The contacts of senses with objects, O son of Kunti, which cause heat and cold, pleasure and pain, have a beginning and an end; they are impermanent; endure them bravely, O descendant of Bharata.”
While we cannot avoid experiencing pain and pleasure, we can avoid suffering by choosing not to amplify our pain through persistent thought. By accepting the impermanence of both pleasure and pain, and by not allowing our minds to dwell on pain, we can free ourselves from suffering and face life’s challenges with greater resilience.
