We read at pbs.org, that the Four Noble Truths, so simplified, are that “…suffering exists; it has a cause; it has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its end.” So that, for all those that decry about this or that, recognize that the suffering that any particular person has to deal with, is going to be something, that all of us have to deal with, in one way or another, during the course of our lifespan. Those then, that see such suffering as the opportunity to prove their character and thus make it their point to do their best to alleviate such suffering, through the development of the right knowledge, the right discernment and the right application of such, are going to be those then that are best able to not only willingly accept those four noble truths, but to focus well upon the bringing of the cause of such suffering to a favorable conclusion.
The very first thing that each of us needs to examine is our own life, of who and what we really are, and from there to determine as to whether or not, we find satisfaction within the answer that comes to us. Those then that are most satisfied, are typically those that are on a good pathway, and have made good decisions, from their sensible thinking and dedicated work habits, in order to get to that valued place. On the other hand, those that are unsatisfied with who and what they are, should then take the time to acknowledge that they may well have flaws within their character, or within the construct that they are intimately involved with, that needs thus to be meaningfully addressed.
There are plenty of those that like to make excuses for who and what they really are, and while acknowledging that suffering does exist, of which, they are cognizant that there is a cause, don’t though seemingly want such to come to an end, because they can’t seem to generate the appropriate action plan to do something constructive about it. Indeed, to know the cause of one’s suffering but to not put forth the effort to alleviate such suffering, is a dead-end, which basically resolves nothing. Now, perhaps, there are those situations in which we are apparently suffering from something, that seemingly is not something that we can change within our own volition. Yet, recognize this well, there will still be opportunities that we can avail ourselves of, so as to improve our lot, or to look at a particular problem in another way, or there are skills that we can yet still develop which may serve to aid us, so that, essentially, to simply give up is seldom going to be the correct answer in response to that which stymies us.
In this world, each of us will be challenged in our own individual way, of which, there will for a certainty, be a pathway, that we may not initially see or even to understand, that will provide us with the opportunity to overcome that which seems to be hindering us from getting to where we need to be. Indeed, problems do exist for us to puzzle such out, and those that will not relent from their good efforts built upon the structure of right thoughts and noble deeds, will successfully put all the pieces of that puzzle together, so as to thereby become complete and whole.