What is the meaning of suffering?

Question: What is the meaning of suffering!?

I'm not talking about the technical dictionary definition!. I just mean, what is the meaning of suffering!? Why do people and creatures suffer in this world!? Is there really a meaning to suffering!? Or is it just something that everyone has to endure (some much more than others) as long as they're alive!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Suffering is how you see it!.
A normal ignorant person sees suffering as a bad thing, but a wise person sees it as a learning experience!.
You can hate suffering, but you would have never guessed that even the most basic knowledge was the result of endless tries and fails and through them suffering as well!.
also suffering itself is the elixir that makes people stronger or weaker!. It depends what sort of person you are!. A person can be traumatized by the suffering but if he/she faces what they fear then they become stronger(emotionally, determined, etc!.)
So in essence the more one suffers, the more stronger he becomes!.

But you can look at this in a religious way as well!. Our ancestors suffered incredibly for God, and thus became martyrs and closer to God!. Why should that concept be any different now!? The Original Orthodox Church teaches us that we must not fear suffering, that we must endure it, and believe in God!. Because HE is not like you and I, he is source of everything, so he must know better than any of us why suffering exists!.
I consider that everything around me happens for a reason, even when I fail or suffer innocently or otherwise, that there is a reason why I am suffering!. Some lesson that I must learn, something that I did wrong to be in such a situation, or something that I must do in order to go forward!.
I have tried this on many occasions and it works for me!. My conclusion is a little twisted, but I came to the conclusion that God is showing His love for me by suffering(because this is the best way to learn something), He teaches me what I must learn, and I accept it, because I would rather suffer one lifetime and learn more things that in a hundred lives then to live one easy life and be a fool to the very end!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Some philosophers attempt to explain away the problem of evil and suffering by creating an analogy to art!.

They argue that just as a good piece of music has discords which contribute to its overall harmony so too must life have pain and suffering to complement the good!.

But when you have people who suffer their entire lives and experience very little good, you have to ask what they get out of this "overall harmony"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In my personal opinion, mental suffering has to be the worst of them all!. To suffer physically is painful, but cannot last for too long with todays' pain killers etc!. Mental suffering can go on for years, with or without medication, plus it is harder to explain to people as they cannot see it!. We all have to endure some suffering in life, some more than others, it is part of life itself, even though its unfair and sometimes unjust!. The only consolation these days is that cruelty to animals is against the law now, and as i mentioned above, there are treatments for most conditions too!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I believe that pain is not a philosophic entity!. If you cut your finger off, you do not run to the metaphysician!. Pain is pain!. To justify someone's pain is as wrong as to dismiss it!. pain is pain!.

Suffering is CHOOSING to feel bad about something!. It is philosophically aligned with narcissism, nihilism, cynicism and skepticism!. Self-pity is a finely worked art that few can accomplish with verve and abandon!. Suffering is only for the truly effete!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

excellent question!.!.!. there is nothing in this world as suffering!.!., it is what you feel that is suffering!.!.!., people and creatures so called suffer for their own purpose and reasons!.!.!., if you look deep into suffering!.!., you will love it!.!.!., you will love pain and suffering will evade away!.!., people generally suffer when things dont happen as they anticipate to happen, and as they wish!.!.!., so if i suffer and become jelous because i dont own a car and my neighbour does, whoz to blame me!.!.!?!.!. how the hell can i and y should i stop my neighbour from buying a car!.!.!?!.>!! i can only work hard and buy a car myself!.!., and if i am not able to, so cant a beggar, will they all suffer along with me!.!.!? no!.!. so if do suffer its me at fault and no one else!.!., and its in my hands only to elevate me from my so call fictitious suffering!.!.!Www@QuestionHome@Com

pain and suffering are a way our brain is programed to avoid something,
like getting burned, for a basic example!. it is just something we have to endure in this mortal life, till we die and our consciousness moves on and our bodies decompose and becomes fertilizer for other living organismsWww@QuestionHome@Com

Suffering is part of the human condition which some armchair philosophers would say is vital to the enoblement of the human spirit!. Personally I think suffering is soul destroying and as far from enobling as one can get and therefore should be avoided at all costs!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well suffering is a bad condition in life that helps you to understand what exactly good condition means if they arrive in your life!.!.!.!. and if good conditions never occur in ur life than u can't call it a suffering than its a "fate" that too a poor one!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

we suffer because without suffering we cannot appreciate joy!. without sadness we can not appreciate happiness!. as to why some suffer more than others!. it think that is a question that will never be answered satisfactorily!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

when you can barely eat 2x a day, dont have enough money to ride a bus and need to walk home and could not even pay the rentWww@QuestionHome@Com

suffering=LIFE!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

agony without predetermined time of end is suffering!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

it is God's test to see if we have a brave and pure heat to live in this world!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

!.!.!.it ain't easy!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com