Misunderstanding Is the Greatest Suffering – Why Buddhism Is the Only Way Out?

Have you ever wondered: "What causes human beings the greatest suffering in this world?" Most of us think it is poverty, illness, or loss. But in his dharma talk "Phật Ngọc Hòa Bình," Thích Chân Quang affirms: what is most frightening is not what happens, but misunderstanding. Misunderstanding people, misunderstanding life, misunderstanding the spiritual world – all of these lead to wrong actions and suffering.

Misunderstanding – The Root of All Suffering

The teacher tells a simple story: A neighbor disappears during the day, leaves the house only at night, and returns in the morning. We quickly conclude that he is a thief. But what if he does a special kind of work at night? If we misunderstand, we become suspicious, report him to the police, and incur guilt toward an innocent person.

"What I fear most in this world is misunderstanding people, because then I treat them wrongly and incur guilt. But if I understand them correctly and treat them correctly, I gain blessings from merit."

Not only in daily life, misunderstanding about spirituality is just as dangerous. We often call the departed "ghosts," treating them like animals. But they are also our ancestors, our elders, simply waiting to be reborn. Even one wrong word can bring guilt.

Spirituality – An Innate Need of Human Beings

Animals understand the world only through what they see, hear, and taste. A dog never asks: "What happens after death?" But human beings always long to go beyond the visible world, seeking answers about the divine, about spirits, about their own place in existence. That is why religion arose, to answer these questions.

"A human being cannot live without spirituality. Living without spirituality is only temporary; in the long run, we all yearn to seek spirituality in order to truly live."

But not every religion explains things correctly. Misunderstanding the spiritual world leads us down the wrong path. So which religion offers the most accurate understanding?

Buddhism – The Only Religion in Harmony with Science

After many years of searching, the United Nations established three criteria: a religion must not oppose science, must build peace, and must uphold the highest human dignity. Only Buddhism fulfills all three criteria.

Regarding science, Thích Chân Quang gives an example: The Buddha once said that in a cup of water there are countless tiny microbes – something humanity only proved thousands of years later with the microscope. The Buddha also affirmed that there are many worlds in the universe, something only confirmed by modern telescopes.

"The Buddha picked up a cup of water to drink, and the Buddha said that in this cup of water there are many tiny creatures. Back then there was no microscope to know such a thing. Yet the Buddha said this thousands of years before the microscope was invented, when people finally looked and saw them crawling about inside."

Buddhism – The Foundation of Peace and Human Dignity

While many other religions still contain images of slaughter, of deities using magic to destroy human beings, Buddhism teaches not to cut down a single branch, not to kill even an ant or a fly. Buddhism regards serving sentient beings as making offerings to all the Buddhas.

"Only in Buddhism may not a single branch or blade of grass be cut down. Only in Buddhism would no one kill even an ant or a fly."

Moreover, Buddhism elevates the human being: "I am a Buddha already accomplished; you are Buddhas yet to be." No other religion gives humanity such absolute hope.

Buddhism – The Enduring Strength of Our Nation

Looking back at Vietnamese history, Thích Chân Quang points out clearly: King Trần Thái Tông slipped away at midnight to Yên Tử to become a monk, leaving behind an example of compassion that made the whole people love the Trần dynasty. That was precisely the strength that defeated the Mongol armies, which outnumbered and outmatched us in every way.

"Because the Trần kings followed the Buddha. This is the secret behind every lasting political foundation."

In contrast, when the Hồ dynasty turned away from Buddhism, the people's hearts withdrew, and our country fell under Ming domination. In the nineteenth century, when Buddhism had weakened, the French colonizers easily spread their religion and took away the soul of the nation, and we lost our country for a hundred years. That lesson still holds true today.

Choose the Difficult Path to Walk

Facing new religions seeking to attract our people, Thích Chân Quang warns: "We are losing our country once more if the Vietnamese no longer hold Buddhism in their hearts." Therefore, each of us should practice diligently – practicing meditative concentration, reciting sutras, and bowing to the Buddha.

"Choose the difficult path to walk. Do not look for the easy path. They say this practice is easy, that practice is fast. Do not believe such things. Choose the difficult path to walk."

Sitting in meditation makes our legs ache, but it is the path that steadily nourishes the spirit. Every hour of meditation is an hour we contribute to protecting our nation with a peaceful mind/heart. Let us begin today, so that no misunderstanding clouds our wisdom, and so that our homeland of Vietnam may remain steadfast in the light of the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).