Misconceptions About Suffering

Why do people suffer? The definition of suffering according to google is “the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship” Throughout everyday people experience suffering. Those who do, suffer all in their own unique way. People can suffer through a number of ways physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Everyone you know suffers its apart of being human. What can you do with suffering? Is it possible you can alleviate it?
One misconception on suffering is that people suffer because of our sins. Take the religion of Hinduism for an example they have a belief called Karma. Karma is the result of actions and thoughts if they are selfish thoughts or actions it’s negative and if it's selfless it’s positive. Jacob Kinnard
Samsara is the physical world and our physical existence “Everything in samsara has a soul or essence that is spiritual in nature but trapped in physical form... Desire is the trap, attaching the atman to a continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth, or reincarnation.” (Kraft. “Hinduism's Beliefs About Suffering”). In Reincarnation, karma is what determines someone’s fortune in their next life, whether they live a happy life or a sad one. Once one’s soul is reborn their fate for that life has been sealed. In order to have a better life, someone would need to do all that they can to avoid karma. Then in the next life they should have a happier life. The cycle continues on like that until they reach the end of the cycle (samsara). Hindu’s believe that desires and sin are what starts the cycle of reincarnation. In order to stop suffering a person would need to be free from all worldly possessions including material goods and
I believe that we can cause suffering whether or not we realize it. We can cause others to suffer by the things we say or do. We can’t control spiritual evil in certain circumstance. We can choose not to gossip or to lie.
I believe that the worse kind of suffering comes from Physical evil. It’s often easy to understand when you see where it comes from. It’s easy to see when it comes from your actions. Often times it can be explained what’s happening and what caused it not why it’s happening. As someone who has had a (severely ill) brother in the hospital it’s impossible to make sense of it. You can try but sometimes there is no answer, but you can always choose to find the good in the suffering.
After he got better I thought it was over we would be “normal” for a while. That’s until my Aunt’s custody battle and my grandfather’s sudden loss of health. It was like one hit after another. That’s thing about suffering its unpredictable and its life. Suffering shapes us as much as joy does. Its apart of our memories and personality. It can make us stronger or it can break