Understanding Suffering in Buddhism : หน้า 52/263

1.3. Suffering as an affliction This third meaning of suffering shows the direct inter-rela- tion with the fourth Noble Truth of the Path of Practice for an end of suffering. That suffering is an affliction, in the same way that patients continue to suffer from illnesses they make no effort to heal, suffering continues to ail those who are still reckless and make no effort to practise the Eightfold Path for an end of suffering. If living beings made the effort to practise the Noble Eightfold Path, they could effectively re- move themselves from the clutches of suffering. 1.4. Suffering from the point of view of decay This fourth meaning of suffering is intended by the Buddha to show the direct inter-relation between suffering and the cessation of suffering. The Buddha shows his objective to inform living beings that the suffering which brings them misery from the moment they are born will continue for as long as those living beings have not attained cessation [nirodha] of suffering, better known by the word 'Nirvana'. Whosoever is well-developed in their Perfections and in their wisdom will be able to attain the Noble Paths and Fruits of Enlightenment and finally attain Nirvana. Those who have become united with Nirvana, will finally cast off the shack- les of suffering once and for all and will be left in happiness for eternity. Deterioration and decay that are the character- istics of all things still within the clutches of suffering, will be transcended. This is the reason why in this fourth expla- nation of the characteristic of suffering, the Buddha pointed clearly to to suffering’s inter-relation with the extinction of suffering.