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Comment by lukan

3 days ago

"What if the next day his hope came back?"

What if he tried that, but every day just got worse than the last day?

And people don't get any younger.

My grandmother is 98. She hates her life since she could not go out anymore. But she is catholic and suicide would be a mortal sin. So she waits till gods take her. And suffers till then.

I would make a different choice for sure. If life is hell and no one depends on me, why should I continue the suffering? (At the cost of others, if I would need help?)

But my plan is of course to reach 120+ in good health. But if I decide I had enough, it will be my decision.

48 comments

lukan

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Noaidi  3 days ago

> What if he tried that, but every day just got worse than the last day?

Anyone can say that about their life right now, can't they? How many people struggling today think that their life will get no better? Look at all those who made it through slavery, what hope did they have? Their hope came from their faith.

Suffering has a purpose, this is something your grandmother understands through her faith. Buddhists understand this as well. Maybe the problem is not our suffering, but our lack of faith in others and in in something bigger than ourselves.

  • lukan  3 days ago

    Well, but what if I ain't a christian nor a buddhist and don't think suffering as a normal living condition is necessary? (Can you proof it is? Also I don't think all christians/buddhists share that believe)

    So sure, suffering and pain are part of life. And accepting that helps a lot to not get stuck in that condition by avoiding painful things, you cannot avoid.

    "Anyone can say that about their life right now, can't they?"

    So no, not anyone is saying that. Only those with a death wish.

    And I don't consider having a death wish as a mental condition. It can of course result of a illness, but it can also be a consciouss wish and then finally a decision.

    And if other people decide they may not do this, but have to remain in their state of living hell, then this is just torture to me.

    • hrimfaxi  3 days ago

      > Well, but what if I ain't a christian nor a buddhist and don't think suffering as a normal living condition is necessary? (Can you proof it is? Also I don't think all christians/buddhists share that believe)

      At the very least, suffering (through childbirth) is a prerequisite to bringing life into this world.

      edit: strange that this is flagged. my parent asked for proof that suffering is inherent in life, and I don't know anyone who has said that the physical act of giving birth is anything but painful.

      7 replies →

    • Noaidi  3 days ago

      The first of the four noble truths set fourth by the Buddha:

      The truth of dukkha: Recognizing that suffering is a fundamental part of existence

      They even call Joy “hidden suffering”. Because whenever the thing is that gives us joy, if we become attached to it and it is taken away then we have suffering.

      And the Christians believe that the suffering of Christ was needed to forgive everyone of their sins.

      So they both view suffering as an important aspect of life. Something to be used for learning and understanding the human condition.

      But the buddhist and the Christians believe that you can escape what you would think of a state of constant suffering through religious practices. It’s the faith the American slaves had in Christ that got them through their state of living hell. And we’ve even seen a Buddhist light themselves on fire to protest the war in Vietnam. So I’m sorry, but I can’t look upon suffering as something that’s negative and I accept it as part of life and just as I can learn things from joy and I can learn things from suffering, and they are both the same size of the coin and equally as valuable.

  • raw_anon_1111  3 days ago

    If I’m 95 years old with terminal cancer, my life isn’t going to get better.

    And please don’t bring some mythical being in the argument.

    • Noaidi  3 days ago

      Both the Buddha andJesus were real people. I wasn’t bringing up God as I don’t believe in a Christian God, and Buddhists don’t believe in God at all.

      But those two characters taught us a lot about suffering. Where it comes from and how to face suffering with courage and not just throw your morals out the window once you have the glimpse of even future suffering.

      Maybe it’s just me, but I see every moment as the best it can possibly be. Whether I’m seeing this gorgeous sunny blue sky today or I’m 95 years old with terminal cancer. It’s a miracle to be born and to exist in this world, it’s extremely rare. And I want to live every last second of it. Maybe that’s what’s upsetting me about reading what he wrote. If you just try to grab the good times in this life and use that as a goal you’re going to be severely disappointed.

      24 replies →

  • Viliam1234  3 days ago

    > Suffering has a purpose

    Maybe some suffering has a purpose, and some suffering does not? It doesn't have to be always this or always that.