The other day, someone asked me if there was a contradiction between the Buddha’s statement that “life is suffering” and the teaching that human life is precious. This led to an interesting discussion and a new perspective on a common misunderstanding.
Firstly, it’s important to clarify that the Buddha never actually said, “life is suffering.” Instead, he highlighted that there are various kinds of suffering in life. Here’s the first noble truth — the truth of suffering — as recorded in the early scriptures in what are believed to be the Buddha’s own words:
– Birth is suffering; old age is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering; association with the disliked is suffering; separation from the liked is suffering; not getting what you wish for is suffering. In brief, the five grasping aggregates are suffering.
This doesn’t say that life itself is suffering, but rather that life contains many instances of suffering. The Buddha also pointed out that life includes peace, joy, and happiness, and that we can reduce, or even eliminate, suffering with awareness. This is what the third noble truth is about — the cessation of suffering through letting go of craving.
So, human life is precious because we have the ability to choose: we can remain unaware and continue to suffer, or we can cultivate awareness and free ourselves from suffering. This choice is unique to humans and not available to all living beings.
A follow-up question was whether human life is “precious” because it’s better to exist than the alternative of never having been born or no longer existing. This brings us into the less scientific, more cosmological side of Buddhism, which posits that the alternative to human existence is not non-existence but a less advantageous form of existence. Traditional Buddhist teachings suggest that being reborn as a human is incredibly rare and precious, akin to the unlikely scenario of a one-eyed turtle surfacing in the ocean and putting its head through a yoke floating on the surface.
Human existence offers the best opportunity for spiritual awakening or “bodhi” compared to other realms. These realms are described as animals, hell, ghostly forms (collectively the three lower realms), our human realm, and the realm of the gods. Gods, in Buddhist cosmology, are mortal but live longer lives. However, they don’t develop insight due to their lack of suffering and, upon their death, often descend into the lower realms.
Human life allows for self-awareness and provides enough suffering to motivate improvement, while not so much pleasure that we become complacent. Thus, it creates the ideal conditions for spiritual growth, making it a rare and precious opportunity.
Many modern practitioners interpret these “realms” as symbolic of psychological states. For example, an animal existence symbolizes a life fixated on gratifications, hell represents depression and anxiety, and ghosts are symbolic of unsatisfied longings. The gods represent hedonists, while asuras symbolize those obsessed with power. We experience a truly human state when we are self-aware, ethical, and emotionally healthy. Throughout our lives, we might cycle through these realms or experience several in a single day.
The Buddha’s teachings encourage practice rather than literal belief. Reflecting on the scarcity and brevity of human life can instill a sense of urgency, making us value the precious time we have. Recognizing that there are always possibilities for us to slip into different states of being helps us appreciate the importance of awareness in reducing suffering.
Whether in times of suffering or joy, maintaining mindfulness and practicing kindness can help us lead meaningful lives. Remembering that life changes and valuing our precious human existence can guide us toward living well.
Life is short. Let’s make the most of it.