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Does suffering arise from an effort to appease an illusory self?

ravkesravkes Veteran
edited March 2011 in Buddhism Basics
The majority of people on Earth believe that the thoughts in their head are who they are. These thoughts form an illusory self, which is empty of existence and is in reality simply used as a reference point to remind the mind that the body is here and not there. Over time, due to social conditioning and just the general way things go in life.. we start to form an identity. Until this identity is questioned or suffers to a certain point that's where we live our lives from.

Isn't this where our suffering arises from? An effort to appease something that isn't there?

Comments

  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    I think it has more to do with craving for an eternal, unchanging self (that doesn't exist).
  • finding0finding0 Veteran
    No moment we seek out side of this eternal moment of now we usher our selves into suffering with the illusion of This in not good enough. I am not perfect. I am not whole
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    As someone wiser than I once put it, "Wherever you go, there you are."

    But then the questions might arise, "Who am I ... no kidding around...who am I?"

    Without disposing of that question satisfactorily -- without experiencing the answer -- I think suffering will continue to mar the scenery.
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