Buddha's First Noble Truth: Life Is Suffering

This week my eyes have been opened again to the DIFFICULTY of life.  People around me are suffering.  I am suffering.  And although our sufferings are not abject poverty nor hunger, they are real just the same.  This is the suffering list:

My friend died yesterday of cancer.  We watched her undergo great personal pain to try every possible treatment to prolong her life for her children.  She was able to see a son leave on a mission and to catch a few more basketball games, but her kids will face the rest of their lives without her.

On the same day, another friend confided that she is filing for bankruptcy.  Truly one of the hardest workers I know, she has scrimped and tried to stave this off for years.  She is filled with shame.

A friend is adjusting to a new life after her husband's suicide one year ago.  She is grieving, but also trying to help her five children face the grief and make sense of what happened.

Tomorrow a friend is commemorating the tragic death of her husband, who died in an airplane crash one year ago.  He left her with six kids and a house that requires continual maintenance to be livable.

Another friend is going through a prolonged job crisis starting a business.  She and her husband have received numerous confirmations from the Spirit that they are doing the right thing, but they are hitting snag after snag.  They are depleting their savings and questioning their prayerful decision.

I have had a tough week dealing with my husband's depression and possible relapse.  This is the first major depressive episode since recovery, and I watched him recognize it coming on and then NOT do the things he knows will help him.  His actions cause suffering to me and our kids.





I read this week that Buddhism is based on four noble truths.  The first noble truth is:  LIFE IS SUFFERING.

Wow.  It rang true.  Life is difficult.  Wildflower, "Do we have a truth like that in Mormon theology?  Or do we just have "Men are that they might have joy", which doesn't feel true to me today?

More on this later.