[BK] CHAP. 8 Life is dukkha vs. personal responsibility

Dakini

pgs. 104-5 Author says that recognizing that dukkha is part of the nature of life "is a radical step". He implies it's freeing (*whew* It's not just me who has these problems), and that realization of the universality of dukkha can unite us all. And he says, isn't it a relief to realize it's just dukkha, there's nothing wrong with you?

But isn't Buddhism about taking personal responsibility for your circumstances? Maybe the reason the boss is on your case at work isn't about dukkha being part of life, maybe it's due to unskillful actions on your part at an earlier point in the day or week. Or maybe you have unresolved issues from the past that you bring to your work relationships. Maybe it IS you.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, or not enough into it, but it's confusing me. Anyone else?

Jeffrey

In the example of the boss the criticism isn't a problem. The reaction to the criticism is the problem. I am a person who responds with rage quite often with criticism and I do and say things uncalled for. Just an example, but most people have some degree of fear. One definition of a buddha is that they are without psychological fear. They probably still get an adrenaline rush if a bear jumps out!

One aspect of the buddha nature is sensitivity and that allows you to function just as you describe. The wisdom shows you that its not YOU it is just phenomenon. The sensitivity is the heart response to act appropriately. As our buddha nature is uncovered from fear and anger and so forth (and illusion of self) we begin to act more appropriately.

What do you think?

Ric

Maybe you guys can help me since you are more experts in Buddhism. Isnt Dukkha by nature created by the person. Like getting stabbed in the stomach is painful but its not Dukkha, Dukkha is when you hold your wound and think "why me...whhhhyyy meeee." and you yell up at the sky "noooooo".

So in the case of a boss yelling at you for the correct reason that you did a bad job would not be dukkha, but falling to your knees and going "whhyyyy god! whyyyy!" and making yourself depressed over it is the dukkha part.

Dakini

@Ric hmm....and you humbly say you're not an expert on Buddhism? You've got a pretty good grasp of the dukkha thing! ^_^ Yes, dukkha is created by the person, ultimately; it's a result of how he/she reacts to adversity. So looking at the passage from this perspective, what the author is doing, I guess, is saying that the first step in the 4 Nobles is to realize that humans simply have a tendency to dwell on emotions when things don't go their way for any reason. Ok, that makes sense. Then the next step, is as Jeffrey implied, that you begin to let go of that tendency, develop equanimity, and also sensitivity. Ok, I think I get this, that helps. Thanks, guys. : )