duḥkha – suffering
ekānta – certain
atyanta – permanent
jijñāsā – desire to know
It is a response to the inevitable human experience of suffering.
- There are three kinds of suffering: inside the body, external and supernatural.
- Internal suffering can be physical or mental (absence of likes and presence of dislikes).
- External suffering originates in other men, animals and inanimate things.
- Supernatural suffering (divine misery) originates in ecology (heat, cold, wind, rain, predators, etc.).
- Suffering evokes an inquiry into the possibility of ending suffering.
- Why should I bother with such a demanding inquiry when there are other easier means (low hanging fruit) to treat suffering (drugs, shelter, rituals, etc.)?
- Because all the other means to treat suffering yield uncertain (may or may not have a desired effect) and temporary results (even when they do work, the suffering returns).
- This inquiry is a natural response to suffering.
