The Noble Truth of Suffering : 1. Suffering as a result of Birth [jati dukkha]

Meditation

Meditation for Peace

 

The Noble Truth of Suffering :

1. Suffering as a result of Birth [jati dukkha]

 

 

Hatching from an egg [andaja] e.g birds, lizards and snakes;

The Lord Buddha taught that suffering as a result of birth is ‘built in’ suffering for every living being conceived in the realms of the Cycle of Existence. The arising of beings in the Cycle of Existence is by four possible modes of birth:

 

    1. Hatching from an egg [andaja] e.g birds, lizards and snakes;

    2. Birth from the womb [jalabuja] e.g. mammals;

    3.Arising in dampness or moisture [samsedaja] e.g. prokaryotic organisms e.g. mosquitos and some sorts of worms;

    4. Spontaneous arising in adult form [opapatika] who are as developed as a sixteen-year old complete with adornment from the moment of birth e.g. angels, gods and denizens of hell.

 

The suffering of birth starts to affect beings without exception from the moment they are conceived. Some beings are fully equipped with sense spheres [ayatana] from the moment they are born others are handicapped, only further adding to their suffering. There will be suffering as a result of birth, whatever the mode of birth. However, for birth from the womb, the suffering is correspondingly more than for those arising spontaneously in adult form, or those arising in dampness or moisture.

Birth from the womb [jalabuja] e.g. mammals;

 

The suffering of birth starts to affect beings without exception from the moment they are conceived. Some beings are fully equipped with sense spheres [ayatana] from the moment they are born – others are handicapped, only further adding to their suffering. There will be suffering as a result of birth, whatever the mode of birth. However, for birth from the womb, the suffering is correspondingly more than for those arising spontaneously in adult form, or those arising in dampness or moisture.

 

For the mammals, for the first seven days after conception, the embryonic precursor [kalla] has the appearance of a tiny drop of sesame seed oil of the size that adheres to the tip of a yak hair which is clear like butter fat.

 

Seven days later the embryonic precursor will become more concentrated taking on the colour of water in which one has washed one’s hands.

 

Seven days later still, the droplet becomes yet more concentrated until it has become a small piece of flesh with the same consistency of a chicken egg and it will continue in this state for a further seven days. So far twenty-eight days have elapsed. At this time, there is a swelling in five places corresponding to the limbs and the head a state which lasts for another seven days. After this time there is a differentiation of hair [kesa], bodily hair [koma], finger and toenails [nakha], teeth [danta] and skin [taco], respectively.

 

From this time onwards, the suffering of being in the mother’s womb starts to be apparent to the foetus, suffering that is so intense that it is difficult to find a comparison in words.

Arising in dampness or moisture [samsedaja] e.g.organisms e.g. mosquitos and some sorts of worms;

 

1.1 The Suffering of Internment in the Womb

 

The foetus is seated upon the faeces of the mother passing through her intestines and has the fool being digested in her stomach as a pillow. The foetus is forced into a squatting posture, hunched and hugging its own knees, with its back to the surface of the mother’s backbone more like a monkey squeezing itself  inside a hollow log to escape the rain, than a human being The baby is bound up by its placenta and so is unable to extend its arms or legs, in the stinking darkness of the womb – almost like being subjected to a new sort of hell for ninemonths. The stench inside the womb, which the foetus must tolerate night and day is like the smell of a rotting corpse [asubha] and all with the relentless burning heat within the mother’s body, more like a piece of meat being poached in a casserole than a baby. This is the first sort of suffering every living being encounters and technically speaking, this first suffering in the womb is called’gabbho kantika mulaka dukkha’.

 

1.2  The Suffering of Physical Shocks to the Womb

 

Moreover, if the mother should happen to fall accidentally, or even the normal motion of the mother’s walking up and down, or turning over in bed, getting up and sutting down inflicts further fear, shock and pain on the foetus in the womb-like the fawn of a hog deer terrified at the hands of a drunkard, or a baby snake at the hands of a snake – charmer – their whole baby will be cast back and forth, shaken and tumbling, never managing to regain an upright position When the mother eats or drinks something cold, the foetus will be frozen within the womb. Each time the mother eats or drinks something hot, then the burning only adds to the suffering of the foetus, like being exposed to a rain of hot ashes. Each time the mother eats some thing spicy, the whole of the foetus’s body will itch and become swollen with the strength of the spices like a prisoner being tortured by having salt rubbed into open wounds all over his body. This second aspect of suffering at birth is known as ‘gabbha parihara mulaka dukkha’.

 

 

The Suffering of Internment in the Womb

 

1.3 The Suffering of Unnatural Delivery at Birth

 

If the baby happens not to rotate itself properly when nearing the time of birth, and lies blocking the delivery path, the baby will have to be delivered by being forcibly dragged out of the womb by its arms and legs. This third aspect of suffering at birth is known as ‘gabbha vipatti mulaka dukkha’.

 

1.4  The Suffering of being delivered at Birth

 

When it comes to the time when the baby must be delivered, there will be a build up of ‘natal wind’ [lamalammajavata] which turns the baby upside down with its head down towards the birth canal and its feet up – as frightening for the baby as aperson dangling elephant trying to make its escape by squeezing through a narrow space, or like denizens of the ‘Sanghata’ hell who are condemned to being crushed beneath fiery mountains. This fourth aspect of suffering at birth is known as ‘gabbha jayika mulaka dukkha’.

 

1.5 The Suffering of Being Cleaned-Up after birth

 

The torture continues as the doctor or the midwife cleans up the baby and drys him off. To the baby with its sensitive skin, the experience is like being pierced by sharp needles and stabbed with razor-sharp knives. This fifth aspect of suffering at birth is known as ‘gabbha nikkhamana mulaka dukkha’.

 

1.6  The Suffering of Curtailed Life

 

From the moment the baby leaves the womb, the suffering is not finished. The baby must grow up into an adult. Some people have various forms of unpleasant karmic retribution that have followed them from their actions in previous lives. Some are punished as criminals and spend their lives in prison. Some are murdered. Some are obsessed by vengefulness. Some commit suicide by hanging themselves or poisoning themselves. These are all examples of suffering which people experience merely as the consequence of having been born and are called’ attupakkama mulaka dukkha’ the sixth aspect of the suffering of birth.

 

 

The Suffering of Physical Shocks to the Womb

 

1.7 The Suffering of Wounds in Combat

 

In actual fact, all the suffering people experience in the world starts from the fact that they have been born at all. Birth is the prime mover for their suffering. Taking birth in human form, some people are subjected to suffering as the result of the weapons of others. This seven to aspect of suffering at birth is known as ‘parupallama mulaka dukkha’.

 

1.8 The Suffering of Birth in the Hell Realms

 

Even the suffering of the denizens of hell starts with them being born in hell. The causative relation of birth in the hell realms for consequent suffering is said to be the eighth aspect of suffering caused by birth.

 

1.9  The Suffering of Birth in the Animal kingdom

 

Those beings that are born in the animal kingdom are subjected to suffering caused by the cruelty of masters and hunters being beaten with a whip or a goad, being stoned or hunted to death. All of these forms of suffering could not occur if it wasn’t for being born as an animal. The causative relation of animal birth for consequent suffering is said to be the ninth aspect of suffering caused by birth.

 

1.10 The Suffering of Birth in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

 

Lastly, those who are born as hungry ghosts [pettivisaya] suffer seriously as the result of having been born. They are hungry but unable to eat or drink anything while being left exposed to be burned by the wind and the sun. The causative relation of birth in the realm of hungry ghosts for consequent suffering is said to be the tenth aspect of suffering caused by birth.

 

to be continued...

 

 

Meditation - Related Articles

What is meditation?

7 Bases of mind 

How many kinds of meditation are there?

The Right Concentration

The False Concentration 

How to Meditate 

A Meditation Guide

Learning Meditation

Basic Meditation Method 

Meditation is not difficult 

Dhammakaya Temple  

Meditation Retreat