Doesn't suffering make you stronger?

tim45174

How would a Buddhist respond to the belief that "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." ?

A documentary I saw about Nietzsche said that he believed that the more one suffered, the more capacity they had for greater happiness.

Doesn't it make sense that one can only understand happiness by comparing it to suffering? By not enduring suffering, how do you understand happiness?

Treehugger

The Buddha taught that through understanding the cause of suffering, and its true nature, one will no longer suffer.

We all suffer. The constant worrying of our minds, wanting, wishing for things to be different is suffering. We all have experienced difficult experiences to compare happiness against.

I think I understand the argument that you bring up. "I've been at the lowest point of my life, but now everything is great and life is tenfold times greater." Something like that, correct? If so, then yes, it is possible to be worlds happier once one has experienced a terrible ordeal. However, in the framework of Buddhism, the practitioner seeks to eliminate the source of the suffering, such as wrong beliefs, conduct, and thought. This does not mean that the Buddhist will no longer experience difficulties in life, but rather know it is or is not something which should cause them grief, or anger. Through wisdom gained with the practice, the individual can understand what real happiness is, as well as how to experience it fully.

tim45174

Ok I am not arguing that it isn't possible for one to reach some degree of an escape from suffering. I am questioning whether or not it really is a good thing to avoid suffering all together, because suffering can make one stronger by challenging them, and can allow them to appreciate other things in their lives.

pegembara

tim45174 wrote: »

How would a Buddhist respond to the belief that "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." ?

A documentary I saw about Nietzsche said that he believed that the more one suffered, the more capacity they had for greater happiness.

Doesn't it make sense that one can only understand happiness by comparing it to suffering? By not enduring suffering, how do you understand happiness?

"When we are no longer able to change a situation – just think of an incurable disease such as inoperable cancer – we are challenged to change ourselves."

Read this thread

http://newbuddhist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5072

tim45174

Thank you, that is an excellent thread.

I guess what is important is not avoiding suffering but accepting challenges in life while being grateful for what you do have.

NamelessRiver

"whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

I don't like generalizations. We all have a threshold. At a point you begin to break.

Ok I am not arguing that it isn't possible for one to reach some degree of an escape from suffering. I am questioning whether or not it really is a good thing to avoid suffering all together, because suffering can make one stronger by challenging them, and can allow them to appreciate other things in their lives.

This is a dangerous line of reasoning. One thing is to say "Okay, he harmed me, he is likely to do it again, so I'll stay clear of him and handle the anger that is inside of me in a rational way".

The other is to say "He hurt me but he is my 'patience teacher' (I have said that, how stupid), I am angry because I can't deal with life, not because of him."

I am questioning whether or not it really is a good thing to avoid suffering all together

We can't do that. But I will say that if you are suffering and you have the means to handle it, then do it.

DhammaDhatu

Suffering can make one wiser. When one is wiser, one can avoid suffering.

The absence of suffering is happiness.