Is there an end to the suffering?Please share your experiences.
Izen

PG,
Eternal joy is only possible through togh self-disciplines and himalayas of suffering.Well Buddha did come up with some answers about state of Nirvana.The rules of right conduct.State of nothingness an absolute void "sunyata" how possible that is demands I lose my consciousness but I wouldn't be able to answer you in "sunyata".
iZ

"Life is what you make of it.The point of life is to be happy, and bring happiness to others. Its to do what you think is right, now, while you are still alive. Help others, find love, share love. Never ever take anything for granted. And most importantly, find happiness in the simplist things and be able to laugh at everything...:D "
Matrix, how sure are you that this will end the suffering?

Well first of all define the word SUFFERING (for you)...I think each of us have our own defination for this word...so what might be suffering for you might not be for others and vise versa. It depends on the eyes u see it through... ;)

keep smiling...

Life is suffering, so live with it. When will it come to an end? When your life does, hopefully.

i like what ocean wrote- "Do not resist it, do not flee from it. It is your aversion that hurts, nothing else." to live life to the fullest, shouldn't we experience both intense ecstasies AND intense pain? what is one without the other?! a yin without a yang....dal without bhat....difficult experiences (suffering) help shape who we are and they do make us stronger.

and i think m-rose also has an important point- suffering must be defined by and for each individual.

here's a good (albeit cheesy) quote- just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly....

Suffering is like "Sagarmatha" matrix.For some it is Mount Everest and for the northerners it is "chomulunga".For "yaks" and "yetis" it is a huge piece of rock.Names don't matter it is still the highest peak on planet earth.Same with suffering the way we feel it is the same.Hence,suffering is same for all.
For Ocean:
To seek an answer isn't fleeing from life or resisting either.The battle field of life and suffering that revolves around it does sometime imposes this question of suffering.
Newlynew:You are right Buddha did leave the palace to find an answer to the question.HD:Your motto is quite confusing than this phenomenon called life.

Dear ones,

I say there is no beginning, and there is no end of our sufferrings. In a way we all are suffering relating ourselves to some of the issues involved in our lives. It could be about our relationships, our degree of achievements, and so on.Those who feel they are suffering, do they know when it started? And, also do they know if that came into a halt? Only 'Life' could answer these questions.

Hanshda hansdai Pareli-ka Dil-bata ashu bagaeye; TAP-PA hatkela-ma khasepachhi po chhal bhayo. PAHAD-ka ukali ani orali ta thiyenan tya-ha, Sam-ma Maidan ma hidda pani Ladiyo, ani chot lagyo;RAGAT-ko bhal bhagepachhi po chal bhayo. Thaha bhayena, MAIDAN-ma kina ladiyo.

Prem ko kura garda, sayad kasai-ko aankha-ma jeevan bhetiyo; haat samaee 2 paeela (pace) hidi naskadai, samaee-eka haat haru chhute holan; aaklo yatra suru bhayepachhi, BICHHOD bhayo bhane janiyo. UJYALO-ma ta Hasiyo hola; akanta-ma BHAKA-NO Chhutne gari roeeye holan. Tha-ha bhayena katti khera Khushi suru bhayo, ani PIDA. Jevan ta Bachiye holan tyaha, baas prasha gariye affai sanga, KASARI?

So, " Life is a river flowing in-between HAPPINESS & SADNESS; it's two BANKS."-my own quote. Until we are trapped into a BODY we will suffer. Spritiual initiations (NIRVANA) & self relizations could be the solutions. We will be better off and should ask to oneselfves "WHO AM I?" & always ask a question WHY for those issues in our lives & thier reasoings; and analyse things and try to find answer within. My inspirations KOHINOOR SINGH, former NEPALI MODEL; now ANI DOLMA & my guru Swami MUKTANANDA.

So, " Life is a river flowing in-between HAPPINESS & SADNESS; it's two BANKS."-my own quote. Until we are trapped into a BODY we will suffer. Spritiual initiations (NIRVANA) & self relizations could be the solutions. We will be better off and should ask to oneselfves "WHO AM I?" & always ask a question WHY for those issues in our lives & thier reasoings; and analyse things and try to find answer within. My inspirations KOHINOOR SINGH, former NEPALI MODEL; now ANI DOLMA & my guru Swami MUKTANANDA
-Nicely said Bhangli Damini
But wait a minute How could a former model be an inspiration who overnight became a philosopher for publicity stunt?

The Four Noble Truths :
The truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.

1. Define 'suffering' in my life. But at first I've to realize (in real sense) that it exists in my life.
2. What are the sources or reasons of that particular suffering in my life?
3. Do I really think that working on these sources can prevent the suffering in my life?
4. I've to work hard on these causes so that I can end suffering my life.

Suffering is a part of life.Suffering is born in our mind and only if we try will it end in our mind itself.We suffer because we approve ourselves to the deeds that results in our suffering of mind and hence we start to suffer.To born is to suffer.Why do babies cry then?
Life is a punishment and hence it is a suffering and hence we suffer.I can't be a hgypocrite and portray my illusive smile as if I am so thankful for my existance.No I can't do that and when I see so much trauma around me.
~am i having a bad day or on my way to be enlightened~
tell me folks

At the center of happiness there is suffering and at the center of suffering there is happiness - Gautam Buddha

If there is a beginning to happiness or "nirvana" then there is an end to the suffering.

Come to think of it, this is a redundant question. The answer is in the question itself!!

Ya, iZen !

It didn't seem to me that Mrs Singh became AANI for her publicity. Reffering to her interview she didn't want media to approch her. Also, these days we wouldn't find any media exposures about her monk life. She wasn't philoshoper as well but a learner.

A lot of people had attempted to choose spiritiul journey. They became monks, sadhus for a while and returned to live normal lives. There could be a day, Singh could give up her enlightment journey, and come back to her family. We shouldn't be surprised with that. Enlightment was a process. As they say, a life wasn't sufficient to get nirvana. It was said Gautam Buddha practiced mediatations for variours lives, and finally became BUDDHA. Similar experiences had been shared by other Spritiual masters in their biography.

Our concern should be why did Singh choose that path, and gave up the normal life? Why, that day, she visited SOYAMBHU, made her to make the decision of becoming AANI? True spritiual seekers would ask questions to themselves, and they go for actions. One should remember, an advice from siddhas, " If you don't know where you are going; you will reach nowhere." At this moment one would need the GURU, who could lead him/her to the right direction. But the journey would be ones. In this case K. Singh found the guru, and learning Buddisim, she hadn't enlighted yet. Then, it would depend on her state of mind if she could take it, and shot the goal.

Bhangli Damini,
She was everywhere when she first decided on being a monk.And it was self-explanatory that this was some sort of publicity stunt.The profession she chose earlier in her life explains it all about attention seeking.I am not trying to ridicule some one who is talented here but to me the short-cut to any journey is as self-destructive.Understood she was a learner we all are until we become a part of the "void" meaning "sunyata".
Buddha too was convinced that one not necessarily need to renounce his/her normal everyday life to become an ascetic or a monk.He often gave examples of lotus surrounded by filthy muddy water.She could have given continuance to her modeling profession and become a monk at the same time "monk in the heart".There are so many examples of normal social individuals who can live both in physical and spiritual realms at the same time.One can cultivate peace and comapssion in their mind without wearing yellow robes.
There are many artists who practice meditations and rock the concert stage/perform drama/play sports wonderfully all at the same time.Look at Phil Jackson for example the Lakers coach he meditates is a devout buddhist and coaches reputed basketball teams.It helps he admits in his performance.
I guarantee if Kohinoor had used all her positive energy her professional life would have skyrocketed.I would love to see more talents emerge in any field from our homeland.And inspire us all.And for Siddhartha Gautam although long back.He still does to me.Proud to be from Lumbini.
~enuf blah blah~

While Eeyore frets...
...and Piglet hesitates
...and Rabbit calculates
...and Owl pontificates

...Pooh just IS

-BenHoff

Yah iZen

she could have done that. Again depending on the previous lives experiences, some may choose that way. I don't know if that is a market of raw meat; it is said modeling profession has some tits & bits inside. If she is really devotated in to it, it will be hard to follow the path of enlightment. As you know, ones mind should be out of all egos, a full control of the 5 senses; the barriers for truth seekers.

But, hey, a lot of masters has recommended to continue the normal physical life i.e. live with families and take the responsibilties towards ( SRI-MAN/SRIMATI, BABU AAMA, BHANTYANG-BHUNTUNG & THE SOCIETY); and do yogas and then meditations as time allows ( at least morning & evening). This is the best option for people like us, who want to have wife or husband, kids and overall SEX.

My guru & others say if your physical desires are achieved then you can succeed in that path. Once, guru was saying, even if you are about to achieve SHIVOTO (enlightment), and that moment you feel a great desire of SEX, you have to go back to that normal life; do that and start over. So, previous spritiual enlightment prerequisites play a role in this case.But anyway, if we want to follow this path, we must do meditation ourselves; then we know the meanings why others say things. It's all about ATMA GYAAN ( Self realization).

Thanks iZen for this Nice topic. Good luck to all the truth seekers & you.

Life is a MATRIX...you think youare living?? you think you are having fun or suffereing?? You are insane!!!

Who are you..a thing a being??? you think you actually have all the family members, they are related to you in someways??? you think you are in love and attached with your girlfriend?? you think that you will end your life the same cubicle of your office that you are working now??

YOu are kiddin aren't you? YOU are what you think you are, but if you stop thinking for a moment you aren't everything you thought nope...who are you??

What suffereing are you talking about??? Do you know what pain is?? Can you describe?? THat's just your mind playing again?? If you justt close your and even if someone hacks you in two pieces...there's no pain dude..it was just the fear that you were playing with?/

Do you think you actually feel hot or cold?? Thats again your head...i have walked naked in the snow -35 degrees..and I have been the warmest..ever..so you see...there's no such thing as you or even me, forget about suffering...don't get into that maze...it's the way of thinking...trust yourself and trust me for saying I know you have powers that none others have...this world and all the mortal things in it is what your head makes it belive ti for you.

You have the choice to relate to the outer world or seek powers withing your inner world.

"i have walked naked in the snow -35 degrees..and I have been the warmest..ever."

Hush, you must have been stoned ! LOL

:)

ssssshhh....thats besides the point LOL!!!

HUSH, How many questions at a time yaar?? :)
But hey, nice ones. In the mean time, if possible answer them accordingly; that would be helpful.

******
You have the choice to relate to the outer world or seek powers withing your inner world.
******
People in the world are confused which way is better and how to accomplish it to end the suffering??