The Noble Truth of Dukkha (Dukkha-ariyasacca)
A bhikkhu is said to contemplate the Dhamma within the Dhamma, namely the Four Noble Truths.
[146] “And what, monks, is the Noble Truth of Dukkha?”
Birth is dukkha; aging is dukkha; death is dukkha; sorrow, lamentation, physical pain, mental distress, and despair are dukkha; association with the unloved is dukkha; separation from the loved is dukkha; not obtaining what one desires is also dukkha.
In brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are dukkha.
What is “birth”?
The arising, appearance, descent into existence, coming-to-be, the emerging of the aggregates, the acquiring of the sense faculties in beings — this is called birth.
What is “aging”?
Growing old, the state of aging, broken teeth, grey hair, wrinkled skin, decline of vitality, deterioration of the faculties in that being — this is called aging.
What is “death”?
Passing away, the state of passing, dissolution, disappearance, mortality, dying, the breaking-up of the aggregates, laying down of the corpse, the cutting off of the life-faculty in that being — this is called death.
What is “sorrow” (soka)?
Inner dryness, the act of being dried up, the state of a person internally parched, the scorching within of one afflicted by some misfortune, struck by some form of dukkha — this is called sorrow.
What is “lamentation” (parideva)?
Crying out, wailing, the act of lamenting, the state of a lamenting person, of one wailing due to some misfortune, struck by some form of dukkha — this is called lamentation.
What is “physical pain” (dukkha)?
Bodily discomfort, bodily affliction, experiencing painful, unpleasant feeling arising from contact at the body-sense — this is called pain.
What is “mental distress” (domanassa)?
Mental pain, mental unease, experiencing painful, unpleasant feeling arising from contact at the mind-sense — this is called mental distress.
What is “despair” (upāyāsa)?
Anguish, oppression, the state of one oppressed, tormented, of a person afflicted by misfortune, struck by some form of dukkha — this is called despair.
What is “association with the unloved” as dukkha?
Meeting with, being surrounded by, being together with forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile objects that are undesirable, unwished for, displeasing; or with persons who desire what is harmful, who seek what is unbeneficial, who delight in adversity and are bound by the yokes — this is called association with the unloved.
What is “separation from the loved” as dukkha?
Not meeting, not encountering, not being together with forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile objects that are desirable, wished for, pleasing; or with persons who wish one’s welfare — such as mother, father, elder brother, younger brother, elder sister, younger sister, friends, ministers, or blood-relatives — this is called separation from the loved.
What is “not obtaining what one desires” as dukkha?
Beings subject to birth think: “Oh, may we not experience birth; may birth not come to us.” But this cannot be obtained. Thus this is called not obtaining what one desires.
Likewise for beings subject to aging, to illness, to sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair: “Oh, may we not experience these; may these not come to us.” But they cannot be obtained. Thus this too is dukkha.
In brief, why are the five aggregates subject to clinging dukkha?
Form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, consciousness — these, in brief, are called the five aggregates subject to clinging (upādānakkhandhā) and they are dukkha.
This, monks, is called the Noble Truth of Dukkha.
Short Pāli Glossary (concise · intensive)
- dukkha-ariyasacca — the Noble Truth of dukkha; the fundamentally unsatisfactory nature of conditioned existence.
- jāti — birth; the arising and manifestation of the aggregates.
- jarā — aging; decay of faculties.
- maraṇa — death; dissolution and cessation of the life-faculty.
- soka — sorrow; inner grief drying the mind.
- parideva — lamentation; audible weeping and lament.
- dukkha (kāyika) — bodily pain resulting from body-contact.
- domanassa — mental pain; unpleasant mind-contact.
- upāyāsa — despair, anguish, oppressive affliction.
- appiyehi sampayogo — association with the unloved, unwanted.
- piyehi vippayogo — separation from the loved, desired.
- yaṃ na labhati tampi dukkhaṃ — not obtaining what one desires.
- pañc-upādānakkhandhā — the five aggregates subject to clinging:
- rūpa (form),
- vedanā (feeling),
- saññā (perception),
- saṅkhārā (volitional formations),
- viññāṇa (consciousness).
- upādāna — clinging, appropriation.
- khandha — aggregate; aspect of psycho-physical experience.
- āyatana — sense bases; sources of contact and experience.