{"id":676,"date":"2026-01-14T10:41:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T10:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/?p=676"},"modified":"2026-02-05T03:12:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T03:12:19","slug":"kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/","title":{"rendered":"What is suffering? The three levels of suffering in Buddhist thought and why modern people struggle to be happy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Even though I do not follow Buddhism, I still find the concept of \u201csuffering\u201d in Buddhist thought to be a very classical system of thinking\u2014practical and surprisingly well suited to modern life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When reading the book Awakening Mindfulness, as I encountered and came to understand \u201csuffering,\u201d I did not feel like I was studying religious doctrine or lofty philosophy. Instead, it felt as though someone was finally naming the psychological states that young people today frequently experience but often do not know how to articulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This piece of writing reflects what I have understood, contemplated, and synthesized. It does not carry a religious tone, but rather offers a perspective that helps us understand ourselves better and suffer less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Causes of Brain Rot<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/#%E2%80%9CKho%E2%80%9D_khong_phai_la_kho_cuc\" >\u201cSuffering\u201d is not the same as hardship.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/#%E2%80%9CKho_kho%E2%80%9D_la_noi_kho_cua_the_gian\" >\u201cPain of pain\u201d refers to the suffering of worldly life.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/#%E2%80%9CHoai_kho%E2%80%9D_la_kho_vi_su_vo_thuong\" >\u201cSuffering of impermanence\u201d is the suffering caused by change and transience.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/#%E2%80%9CHanh_kho%E2%80%9D_la_kho_do_chinh_tam_minh_tao_ra\" >\u201cConditioned suffering\u201d is the suffering created by one\u2019s own mind.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/#Con_nguoi_hien_dai_kho_hanh_phuc_vi_chua_hieu_ve_%E2%80%9Ckho%E2%80%9D\" >Modern people find it difficult to be happy because they do not yet understand \u201csuffering.\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/#Quan_sat_%E2%80%9Ckho%E2%80%9D_dieu_lam_%E2%80%9Ckho_tan_bien\" >Observing \u201csuffering\u201d: what causes suffering dissolves.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/kho-la-gi-3-loai-kho-trong-phat-hoc\/#Ve_sach_%E2%80%9CKhoi_Chanh_Niem%E2%80%9D\" >About the book Awakening Mindfulness.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CKho%E2%80%9D_khong_phai_la_kho_cuc\"><\/span>\u201cSuffering\u201d is not the same as hardship.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When hearing the word \u201csuffering,\u201d most of us immediately think of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poverty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Misfortune<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major life crises<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But in Buddhist thought, suffering is not only about pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suffering is a state of incompleteness and inner unease that arises when the human mind clings to things that are, by nature, always changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, you can absolutely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Have a stable job<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have someone by your side<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have a life that, from the outside, looks \u201cnice\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2026yet still feel inside:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Exhausted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Empty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restless<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As if something is always missing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That state is also suffering\u2014just more subtle and harder to name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CKho_kho%E2%80%9D_la_noi_kho_cua_the_gian\"><\/span>\u201cPain of pain\u201d refers to the suffering of worldly life.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPain of pain\u201d is the most obvious form of suffering, closely tied to very ordinary aspects of life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Financial pressure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work-related stress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emotional wounds in relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Illness, fatigue, insomnia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is called \u201cpain of pain\u201d because it is suffering in and of itself\u2014no further analysis is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a kind of suffering everyone has experienced. And most importantly: <strong><em>there is nothing wrong with you for being in it.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CHoai_kho%E2%80%9D_la_kho_vi_su_vo_thuong\"><\/span>\u201cSuffering of impermanence\u201d is the suffering caused by change and transience.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSuffering of impermanence\u201d arises when things that were once good are no longer the same:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A relationship that gradually changes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A job that no longer excites you<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Youth, energy, and physical appearance slowly declining<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Not because these things are bad,<br>but because they do not last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The suffering of impermanence reminds us of a very old yet always true reality:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong><em>Everything is impermanent.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And when we fail to accept that, suffering arises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CHanh_kho%E2%80%9D_la_kho_do_chinh_tam_minh_tao_ra\"><\/span>\u201cConditioned suffering\u201d is the suffering created by one\u2019s own mind.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the most subtle form of suffering, and also the one that exhausts modern people the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cConditioned\u201d here does not refer to external actions, but to the actions of the mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Constant, nonstop thinking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Self-blame<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Worry about the future<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Comparing yourself to others<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replaying the same story in your head<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You may not be facing any major crisis,<br>but your mind never truly rests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That very stream of thoughts is what causes your suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Con_nguoi_hien_dai_kho_hanh_phuc_vi_chua_hieu_ve_%E2%80%9Ckho%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Modern people find it difficult to be happy because they do not yet understand \u201csuffering.\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not necessarily because they lack something,<br>but because they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do not recognize what kind of suffering they are experiencing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify themselves with their emotions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allow emotions to control their actions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Anger \u2192 saying things they later regret<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sadness \u2192 hurting themselves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anxiety \u2192 losing control<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Suffering starts small and gradually grows without us even noticing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quan_sat_%E2%80%9Ckho%E2%80%9D_dieu_lam_%E2%80%9Ckho_tan_bien\"><\/span>Observing \u201csuffering\u201d: what causes suffering dissolves.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Awakening Mindfulness, there is one idea that resonated deeply with me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>When you observe in stillness, everything will dissolve on its own.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It may sound abstract, but it is actually quite easy to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, anger is like a pile of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Anger is a pile of fire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each negative thought \u2192 adds firewood<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each exchange of words \u2192 adds gasoline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each time you replay the story \u2192 the fire burns bigger<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When you lose control, you are continuously feeding fuel to the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not speak<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not think further<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Simply observe the anger that is present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Then what happens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The fire no longer has fuel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It cannot burn any bigger.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And then\u2026 it burns itself out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Not because you force it to stop,<br>but because you no longer feed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Observing is not avoidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Observing is not:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pretending to be fine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suppressing emotions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forcing positivity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Observing is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cOh, this is anger.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oh, this is sadness.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cOh, this is unease.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Just noticing\u2014without judgment, without reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At that point:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You are no longer the emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You are the one who is seeing the emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that small distance is exactly what helps you suffer less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ve_sach_%E2%80%9CKhoi_Chanh_Niem%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>About the book Awakening Mindfulness.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Awakening Mindfulness is not a book that teaches religious doctrine.<br>It is more like a gentle user\u2019s guide to the mind\u2014practical and applicable to everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, its writing style can be somewhat complex and may not be truly suitable for first-time readers. This is a book that needs to be read slowly and reflected upon deeply, with a fairly substantial amount of content. You may want to consider this carefully before purchasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article only touches on a very small part of the book, combined with my own reflections and expressed in my own language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sg-11134201-22120-3b4invsef3kv4c.jpg\" alt=\"s\u00e1ch kh\u1edfi ch\u00e1nh ni\u1ec7m, 3 lo\u1ea1i kh\u1ed5 trong ph\u1eadt h\u1ecdc\" class=\"wp-image-678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sg-11134201-22120-3b4invsef3kv4c.jpg 700w, https:\/\/linkachu.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sg-11134201-22120-3b4invsef3kv4c-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/linkachu.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sg-11134201-22120-3b4invsef3kv4c-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/linkachu.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sg-11134201-22120-3b4invsef3kv4c-12x12.jpg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Linkachu \u2014 someone who battled weight issues for nearly 20 years and successfully experimented with a method of eating fully and nutritiously while still losing weight, without exercising.<br>Ready to accompany and support career orientation and development positioning for people aged 18\u201333.<\/em>.<br>This is my Facebook! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/linh.do.984014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">LinkachuMC<\/mark><\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about me at<a href=\"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/\"><em><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\"> Linkachu.net<\/mark><\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>D\u00f9 kh\u00f4ng theo \u0111\u1ea1o Ph\u1eadt, m\u00ecnh v\u1eabn th\u1ea5y kh\u00e1i ni\u1ec7m \u201ckh\u1ed5\u201d trong Ph\u1eadt h\u1ecdc l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t h\u1ec7 th\u1ed1ng t\u01b0 duy r\u1ea5t c\u1ed5 \u0111i\u1ec3n, th\u1ef1c t\u1ebf v\u00e0 ph\u00f9 h\u1ee3p v\u1edbi \u0111\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng hi\u1ec7n \u0111\u1ea1i m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch \u0111\u00e1ng ng\u1ea1c nhi\u00ean. Khi \u0111\u1ecdc s\u00e1ch &#8220;Kh\u1edfi Ch\u00e1nh Ni\u1ec7m&#8221; m\u00ecnh th\u1ea5y v\u00e0 hi\u1ec3u &#8220;Kh\u1ed5&#8221;, m\u00ecnh kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 c\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c \u0111ang [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":677,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hanh-trinh-thay-doi-ban-than","category-sach-hay"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=676"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":688,"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676\/revisions\/688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linkachu.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}