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Dukkha in Early Buddhism

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Encyclopedia of Mindfulness, Buddhism, and Other Contemplative Practices

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Synonyms

Duḥkha (Sanskrit); Pain; Suffering; Unsatisfactoriness

Definition

According to the early Buddhist analysis, dukkha (Pāli) or duḥkha (Sanskrit) is one of the three characteristics of all conditioned phenomena, designating in particular their inability to provide lasting satisfaction.

Dukkha

Insight into the inability of conditioned phenomena to provide lasting satisfaction or fulfilment rests on awareness of their impermanent nature. What changes can indeed only provide temporary satisfaction. Building on impermanence and dukkha (Sanskrit: duḥkha), the third characteristic of not self falls into place: What is impermanent and ultimately unsatisfactory is for this very reason not fit to be regarded as a self, given that in the ancient Indian setting the notion of a self usually designated a permanent entity.

The problem of dukkhais central to the cardinal doctrinal teaching of the four noble truths, which appears to be based on an ancient Indian scheme of medical diagnosis...

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References

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2011). Right view and the scheme of the four truths in early Buddhism, the Saṃyukta-āgama parallel to the Sammādiṭṭhi-sutta and the simile of the four skills of a physician. Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies, 7, 11–44.

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  • Bodhi, Bh. (2000). The connected discourses of the Buddha, a new translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya. Wisdom Publications.

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  • Ñāṇamoli, Bh. (1995). The middle length discourses of the Buddha, a translation of the Majjhima Nikāya. Wisdom Publications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Numata Center for Buddhist Studies, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Bhikkhu Anālayo

Authors
  1. Bhikkhu Anālayo
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Nirbhay N. Singh

Section Editor information

  1. Centre for Positive Behaviour Support, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Yoon-Suk Hwang

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Lance Hawley

  3. West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Center for Contemplative Studies, West Chester, PA, USA

    Donald McCown

  4. NOUS-School of Specialization (PsyD) in Psychotherapy, Milano, Italy

    Fabio Giommi

  5. Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Antonino Raffone

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Anālayo, B. (2022). Dukkha in Early Buddhism. In: Singh, N.N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Mindfulness, Buddhism, and Other Contemplative Practices. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90465-4_36-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90465-4_36-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-90465-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-90465-4

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