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What did Buddha mean?

jlljll Veteran
edited June 2011 in Buddhism Basics
What did Buddha mean when he said, ' What is suffering to ordinary people
is joy to the enlightened one and vice versa' ?

Comments

  • TalismanTalisman Veteran
    Ordinary people suffer from the impermanence and frailty of life. The enlightened one recognizes the impermanence and frailty of life and is liberated from the bonds of attachment which is a source of joy.
  • buddhacoebuddhacoe
    What did Buddha mean when he said, ' What is suffering to ordinary people
    is joy to the enlightened one and vice versa' ?
    Because the enlightened *know* about these sufferings and they dont dwell on them. They are able to live in the NOW. 'For the one who lives truely in the now, its impossible to be unhappy'
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    When quoting references or what the Buddha said, please give link to said quotations and/or references.
    It is pertinent to be able to back such statements with something concrete.

    Many thanks.
  • santhisouksanthisouk Veteran
    edited June 2011
    What did Buddha mean when he said, ' What is suffering to ordinary people is joy to the enlightened one and vice versa' ?
    Some people find the ascetic life miserable and unbearable. We can only speculate that there is great joy to that kind of lifestyle unless we are living that kind of lifestyle.

    metta
  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    the enlightened one takes suffering and transforms it into compassion for others.

    it's all energy and energy has to move. the buddha doesn't hold onto energy.
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited June 2011
    What did Buddha mean when he said, ' What is suffering to ordinary people is joy to the enlightened one and vice versa'?
    The answer to this question is so easy, namely, impermanence & not-self.

    The Buddha taught reincarnation for those unable to give up selfishness & "self-views".

    :)
    ...this venerable person is still praised in the here-&-now by the wise as a person of good habits & right view: one who holds to a doctrine of existence. If there really is a next world, then this venerable person has made a good throw twice, in that he is praised by the wise here-&-now; and in that — with the break-up of the body, after death — he will reappear in the good destination, the heavenly world. Thus this safe-bet teaching, when well grasped & adopted by him, covers both sides and leaves behind the possibility of the unskillful.

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.060.than.html


  • andyrobynandyrobyn Veteran
    What did Buddha mean when he said, ' What is suffering to ordinary people is joy to the enlightened one and vice versa'?
    The answer to this question is so easy, namely, impermanence & not-self.

    The Buddha taught reincarnation for those unable to give up selfishness & "self-views".

    :)
    ...this venerable person is still praised in the here-&-now by the wise as a person of good habits & right view: one who holds to a doctrine of existence. If there really is a next world, then this venerable person has made a good throw twice, in that he is praised by the wise here-&-now; and in that — with the break-up of the body, after death — he will reappear in the good destination, the heavenly world. Thus this safe-bet teaching, when well grasped & adopted by him, covers both sides and leaves behind the possibility of the unskillful.

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.060.than.html


    lol ...... interesting view Element - another angle on this view is the Teachings about impermanence and not self are for those who need to only focus on this life and cannot accept or have the capacity to live with the unverifiable ( ie. what happens after death of this human body) - there is no need to, of course

    ;)
  • auraaura Veteran
    He meant that an enlightened one is one who has learned
    that suffering was both the awe inspiring curse of this world
    and the awe inspiring gift of this world
    that destroyed all the barriers of all the dimensions and opened his heart
    and taught him compassion for all sentient beings in this world.
  • mugzymugzy Veteran
    He meant that an enlightened one is one who has learned
    that suffering was both the awe inspiring curse of this world
    and the awe inspiring gift of this world
    that destroyed all the barriers of all the dimensions and opened his heart
    and taught him compassion for all sentient beings in this world.
    :om:
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    One definition of "insanity" is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Trying to escape from what is inescapable (the present, suffering, etc.) is human, but it is also clearly insane. The practice of Buddhism points this out and suggests that sanity is possible.
  • SpinyNorman2SpinyNorman2
    What did Buddha mean when he said, ' What is suffering to ordinary people
    is joy to the enlightened one and vice versa' ?
    I haven't come across this - do you know where it's from?

    Spiny
  • DazzleDazzle
    edited June 2011


    lol ...... interesting view Element - another angle on this view is the Teachings about impermanence and not self are for those who need to only focus on this life and cannot accept or have the capacity to live with the unverifiable ( ie. what happens after death of this human body) - there is no need to, of course

    ;)
    Which "teachings" do you mean Andy? - In the Tibetan Buddhist 'Torch of Certainty'(Jamgon Kontrul) in 'The Four Ordinary Foundations' which precede Ngondro, the section on Impermance includes "Think about What Happens After Death"

    :)
  • andyrobynandyrobyn Veteran
    edited June 2011
    Hi Dazz, Specifically the Teachings Element was refering to, and quoted from in his preceeding post - those attributed to the historical Buddha, in the Pali canon

    :rolleyes:
  • DazzleDazzle
    edited June 2011
    Hi Dazz, Specifically the Teachings Element was refering to, and quoted from in his preceeding post - those attributed to the historical Buddha, in the Pali canon

    :rolleyes:
    Doh, sorry, I thought you meant from a TB point of view ! :dunce:

    .
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