Definitions HQ

Suffering (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠more than just one ingredient in a life: It is a permeating and necessary feature of it.

Suffering (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠inevitable. To recognize this is not to free ourselves from the suffering itself, but from the hankering that things might be otherwise.

Suffering (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be mitigated if we direct our everyday, practically-oriented consciousness away from objectification and individuation (which is necessarily violent) and towards more extraordinary, universal and less-individuated states of mind.

Suffering (n.) opens ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠up before us like an abyss, while happiness is superficial and shallow.

Suffering (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠unavoidable because we are not masters of our own house. Rather, we are the subject of willing (i.e. That throng of desires, which, as if separate from us, fills our consciousness with constant hopes and fears).

Suffering (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠unavoidable because, much like, tantalus, the mythological figure condemned to draw up water with a serve from the danaids (and thus eternally thirsting), we, similarly are condemned to be the subject to the unquenchable will, that throng of eternal hopes and fears which keep satisfaction, happiness, or peace always out of reach.

Suffering (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠unfulfilled striving whereby striving springs from want or deficiency, from dissatisfaction with one's own state or condition.