Video - The Nature of Distress and Suffering


Distress and suffering are not innate to human life. To alleviate suffering and reveal the underlying qualities of optimal well-being requires that we know the causes of suffering. Only when we understand the causes of suffering can we apply the appropriate remedies. There are two basic causes of distress and suffering. The first are the afflictive emotions that lead to stress, distress, and mood disorders. These arise from our self-preoccupation with seeking pleasure – mistaken as happiness – in relationships, outer experiences, or material objects. The second and fundamental cause of suffering is the disconnection from the center of our being, which is the only place that we can find authentic, trustworthy, and permanent sources of peace and happiness. The end of distress and suffering begins with the turn inward towards inner development, a return to the center of our being.