How do Buddhists explain suffering?

Answer 1

This is a complex topic, but here is a go at it.

Suffering exists because of our desires (cravings), aversions and ignorance. Now it should be explained that the Pali word the Buddha used is Dukkha. As in all translations some words can't be translated one-to-one from one language to another. Dukka in Pali suggests a basic satisfactoriness with life, due to the fact that our lives are impermanent and constantly changing. So it means unease, disquiet, stress, not really suffering, but suffering sort of captures the overall meaning the Buddha was trying to describe in English.

The Buddha explained that our suffering doesn't come from without, but from within. That our desire to be taller, shorter, richer, cooler, drive a better car, live in a different place, etc (Desires). drives us to be unhappy. Also the fact that we think life should be pain free, without fear and want (aversions) makes us unhappy. Finally not realizing how the world actually is and how it really works (ignorance) makes us unhappy. All these things are controlled within our mind.

Think of this example, two people are waiting for a late bus, one is fuming, and the other is whistling a happy tune. Why? The bus is late for both, but one is suffering, the other is not. Is the bus the problem or the person who is mad over something they can't control? Is getting mad going to make the bus come any faster?

Finally, there is a mantra I use to help remind me of how our minds control how we react. It is:

All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind, Made by mind.

Speak or act with a corrupted mind, and suffering follows as the wagon wheel follows the hoof of the ox.

All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind, Made by mind.

Speak or act with a peaceful mind, and happiness follows like a never-departing shadow.

Answer 2

Suffering is a disturbance or irritation of the mindstream. It is an obscuration of the mind, or essence of a person, or, if you will, the soul. The opposite of suffering in Buddhist epistemology is not really happiness or even the cessation of suffering, but freedom from the polarizing concept that causes us to be attracted to some things and averse to others. Buddhists do not explain suffering, they accept that it is the natural human condition. This is stated in the Four Noble Truths. These are written in many ways but in general they say:

1. Life means suffering. During our lives we all suffer physically through pain, sickness, injury and death. We also suffer mental pain through loss and failure to attain what we desire.

2. Suffering results from desire or attachment. Mankind strives to attain power, position. wealth and the satisfaction of physical wants beyond physical needs. We know that these things cannot last and ultimately provide no true satisfaction All of these things are transient, we want to retain them, but we will eventually lose them. Suffering is thought to be the result of confused thinking. People think that to be happy, they need to grasp at those things that they think will bring them pleasure. We are very attached to this idea; that having what we want will bring us happiness. It is actually that grasping, that attachment that causes suffering. 3. There is a way to end suffering The end of suffering can be attained by putting aside desire. We must abandon the pursuit of transient things. 4. The way is the Eightfold Path

The path to the end of suffering is known as the Eightfold Path. This guide leads to a gradual reduction of the control that transient desires have over our nature. The Path contains guides for right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.