Dukkha

Background

Dukkha is a Pali word.

There are several forms of Dukkha :

• Dukkha Dukkha
  “unsatisfactoriness” associated with Suffering / Misery
• Sukha Dukkha
• “unsatisfactoriness” associated with [Seemingly] Pleasant feelings
• Uppekha Dukkha
  “unsatisfactoriness” associated with Equanimity

Misunderstanding

• Note that the Burmese term “Sin Ye Dhukkha” covers only Dukkha Dukkha.
• Most translators render Dukkha as Suffering.
  This led many to believe that Buddhism teaches pessimism.
• Some Sayadaws and Dhamma teachers point out that Buddha was neither an Optimist nor a Pessimist, but that he was a Realist.
• In the Four Noble Truths, he described not only “Suffering” (or Unsatisfactorines), but its Cause and Remedy.
  Practicing the Eight-fold Path can lead to Liberation from Samsara (Rounds of Rebirth).

Online Course

• There is an on-line course which covers Dhammacakka and Anatta Lekkana Suttas.
• It analyzes the two Suttas from several aspects (Psychology and Philosophy).