Another (related) way to look at “dukkha” is to see that as long as one craves pancupadanakkhandha (i.e., perceived “pleasures” in this world, whether “sensual pleasures” or “jhanic/samapatti pleasures”), one is kept away from the “suffering-free pabhassara mind” and is not free from suffering.
1. An average human (puthujjana), unaware of Buddha’s teachings, is trapped in the birth/death Sansaric process, as shown in the bottom half of the above chart.
- Thus, a puthujjana is NEVER free of dukkha.
- In fact, since time spent in human or higher realms is relatively short, a puthujjana is subjected to suffering in the apayas most of the time.
2. Only an Ariya (at or above the Sotapanna Anugami) can progress toward uncovering the suffering-free pabhassara mind, as shown in the top half of the chart.
- Of course, that may or may not involve cultivating jhana. The above chart was compiled to show the futility of cultivating jhana without reaching the Sotapana stage.
3. It is beneficial to spend some time contemplating the chart. That could be a good Vipassana mediation session!