Part 5/9:

Western society often seeks to maximize pleasure and minimize pain, but both are inevitable. Happiness from sensory enjoyment is ephemeral, and pain—whether physical or emotional—can strike unexpectedly. Life’s constant fluctuations between these poles are natural, yet our resistance or aversion to them leads to suffering.

The Root of Suffering: Attachment and Resistance

From a Buddhist standpoint, the winds themselves are not problematic; it’s our attitude toward them that creates suffering. We become entangled in desires to hold on to pleasant experiences and to avoid unpleasant ones. This craving and aversion distort our perception, making us captives of external circumstances.