Human beings confront major adversities simply due to the reason of being in possession of a physical body. This physical body causes delusions and karma to arise, which further cause tremendous suffering and afflictions on the mind. Thus, in Buddhism, suffering is regarded a reality of life.

人之大患，在吾有身，因為有了身體，才會起惑造業，身心飽受苦惱的逼迫，因此佛教說，人生的實相就是苦。



According to the Buddhist sutras, suffering can be categorized into “The Two Sufferings,”

“The Three Sufferings,” “The Eight Sufferings,” “The One Hundred and Eight Sufferings,” as well as the infinite kinds of sufferings. If we classify suffering according to contents, there are eight types of 　suffering:

根據經典的說法，苦有二苦、三苦、八苦、一百零八苦，乃至無量無數的苦。若從內容來分，苦有八種︰



1.Suffering of birth: While still in the mother’s womb, it is trapped in a filthy place with the body turned upside down, as if in jail. During labor, the baby and the mother are both in danger, and when the baby is born, wind scrapes against his tender skin, cutting like knife, causing excruciating pain. Generally, all sufferings experienced during birth is called “suffering of birth.”

1.生苦︰胎兒在母腹時，處溷穢中，頭下腳上，如坐牢獄；出胎時，母子交危；既出之後，風觸嫩皮，如刀割體，苦不堪言。凡此出生世間所帶來的痛苦，稱為生苦。



2.Suffering of old age: From youth to the prime of life, and then to the weakening years; when one becomes weaker, and motions become restless; or even when one’s health declines and becomes listless, his life becomes shortened and comes close to an end. This is called “suffering of old age.”

2.老苦︰從少至壯，從壯至衰，氣力嬴弱，動止不寧；乃至盛去衰來，精神耗減，其命日促，漸至朽壞，是為老苦。







【Key Words】

Suffering of birth：生苦

Suffering of old age：老苦