Haiti and Human Suffering

Accident happens everyday, but is is particularly shocking when it happens to a big region. When that happens, we feel more deeply about the sad human condition, helpless and out of control, no matter how hard we try.

In face of natural disaster, it is hard to answer what is the true meaning of our lives. Human lives appear so senseless and vulnerable, that hard not to question. I might be titled Pessimism if I say this, the true meaning of human life is about suffering, to endure and overcome suffering. It is truly not our own choice to come to this world, it is our Karma from past life brought us here, and we make every effort to relief the suffering. Human realm is much better than animal and ghost realm, but less happier than the heavenly realm, or the world beyond six realms. If our souls wasn't so good to be born in happier realms or transcend reincarnation , we reincarnate as a human being to suffer. We didn't come to this world for a purpose, it is a natural course for our soul. However, we can make a purpose out of our lives, and everybody grows his sense of purpose as he grows up, and the purpose keeps changing as well. First was to be a good student, and a good kid, then to be a good worker, a good spouse, then a good parent, then what? Who am I?

It is a rather pessimistic view, but a pessimistic view doesn't necessarily lead to depression. If suffering is the inevitable fact of human life, we still cry when we lose people in disasters or accidents, but at least we understand we are born to endure and overcome suffering, so that focus our energy in the right place. We understand aging, sickness and death are all inevitable for individual life, so that we feel less sorry when we discover more white hair, and cherish more what we have at this moment. We appreciate everyday of our life more, since normally it doesn't last more than thirty-six thousands days even if one is perfectly healthy, which is a rather small number, and spend less time crying for trivial things such as living in a small apartment, having a low pay job or simply bored.

Sometimes people mistake Buddhism for pessimism. True Buddhists I know are all happy people, because their understanding leads to true freedom, which is really what human hearts are aching for. Not money, not possession, not any attachment, but ultimate freedom, although Karma drives us to chase unrelated things.

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