Expert: Justin Choo - 12/5/2009

Question
Justin,please indulge me,how do you explain the suffering in this world? We have people who seem to lead a charmed life,everything is smooth sailing,food is plentiful and they are able to satisfy their needs with luxuries and the good life.Then... we have some who are born to poverty,strife,famine,war and poor health where their life is nothing but tragic suffering.How does all this fit with the tenets of buddhism?I am lost to come up with an explanation.Tks.

Answer
Hi Stephen,

Welcome to this site.

To answer your question, we have to consider what constitutes a "person".

A person is comprised of matter (physical body) and mind. We know that this physical body will perish one day. It is not a permanent entity. The mind is also not a permanent unchanging entity. The mind is always in a state of flux. There are thought moments continuously going on in the mind. This is the consciousness or energy that gives the mind its substance. The energy of the mind is just like the electric current flowing continuously, but no two moments are the same.

The existence of a person is the results of the energy of the mind taking existence in this physical body. The nature of life-form that this mind energy affixes to, will depend on the nature of the accumulated "kammic" store-house which the being had generated throughout its countless life existences. If the kammic storehouse has a greater portion of evil and unwholesome kammic energy, this mental energy will seek a rebirth in the appropriate existence such that the evil and unwholesome energies will actualize in that life, causing agony and suffering for the being. Likewise, wholesome kammic energy will seek out a happy rebirth. Often, the kammic energy is a mixture of both good and bad strains.

This phenomenon of rebirth is a very unique one. As pointed out, the consciousness is like an electric current. This current lights up different bulbs. This current is not the same at any one moment, it travels or in a flux. As for the bulbs, it is quite obvious that they are different bulbs. However the light that the different bulbs emit is neither the same nor different because it comes from the same source, the electric current. The different bulbs are just like our different bodies in the cycle of rebirths. The Buddha expressed the rebirth process as "neither exactly the same nor totally different" ("Na ca so, na ca anno", in Pali) (Pronounce: "Nar cha so, nar cha un-yo"). To cut off this vicious cycle, the mind has to completely erase any trace of craving and clinging. Once this is achieved, the mind is liberated; no more rebirth, no more death, no more suffering.

I hope this doesn't further confuse you instead of putting you in a better light! The best way to understand the Buddha's teachings is to continue to study his teachings, take time to analyze, and have untiring patience. Given time, you will gradually understand.

Take care.

Smile from justinchoo :-)