Understanding the Inevitability of Suffering : หน้า 77/263

4. A Large Ox: Just as a large ox is the unescapable target for swarms of various biting insects no matter where it may roam, the Aggregates of Clinging are the unescapable prey of all twelve forms of suffering no matter in which realm our aggregates take their birth. 5. An Insecure House: Just as an ill-protected house will attract various bands of robbers, no matter where it is situated, twelve different sorts of suffering will follow the Aggregates of Clinging to wherever they may go in order to effect their various forms of misery. Those who wish to avoid the misery of Suffering should therefore make all efforts to avoid enatisfaction with the Five Aggregates. Only in that way can Suffering be avoided in its beginning (birth), middle (old age and illness) and end (death). Practically speaking, enatisfaction with the Five Aggregates can be overcome by regular recollection of the inevitability of suffering as the result of our psychophysical constituents. We should constantly remind ourselves that: "All beings without exception, which comprise the physical and psychological aggregates, are subject to the suffering of birth, old-age, sickness and death." For people in general who never studied the Dhamma or listened to sermons concerning suffering, when they are overtaken by old-age, sickness or death, it comes as a major trauma. As for those who have achieved some level of enlightenment or have heard the teaching of the Lord Buddha, the inevitability of such suffering presents no surprise. Faced by suffering, the wise reflect that all beings are subject to suffering, irrespective of whether they are possessed of supra-normal powers -- no matter how rich or influen-