轮回的本质就是苦

Why is suffering the second characteristic? People in general think that there are also many elements of happiness in life and do not sense that samsara only has miseries. The reason why we so actively and enthusiastically engage ourselves in the pursuit of wealth and fame of this world is because we believe there is happiness to be had in these worldly achievements. This view comes from our belief that life in the god and human realm is basically a happy one. The Buddha requested that we regard all phenomena in samsara as suffering, which not only is a request from the Buddha but also a fact. Conversely, if the Buddha did not tell the truth, we would not need to comply either, whether or not the Buddha had requested. Although in real life we can see and experience suffering around us at any given time, we tend to easily forget what we have witnessed. As a result, the miseries we so witnessed cannot help us discern the true nature of samsara. This is why the Buddha taught us to regard samsara as nothing but suffering.

为什么苦谛的第二个行相是痛苦呢？因为，一般人认为生命中也有很多快乐的元素，不觉得轮回是痛苦的。我们之所以会主动地、热情地投入到世间利益及荣耀的追逐中，是因为我们相信其中有幸福快乐。这样的认知，都是由于我们相信人天果报是快乐的而引起的。佛要求我们视所有的轮回现象为苦，这不仅是佛的要求，事实也是如此。反之，如果佛所说的不是事实，则无论佛有没有要求，我们都无须照做。虽然在现实生活中随时可看到、体会到轮回的苦，但因为有一个根本问题没有解决，就使得我们时而体察到痛苦，时而又忘却了痛苦，对我们体认轮回的真相起不到什么作用。所以，佛才教导我们要视轮回为苦。

Some people may disagree and ask，“How can samsara be full of suffering when we have actually experienced happiness in this world?,? But this feeling of happiness is really the result of us being obscured by some superficial and transitory appearances. Once we realize the truth behind the so-called happiness，we may begin to feel quite anxious about the precarious condition to which this life has been taking us so far.

有人会反问：轮回怎么会是痛苦的呢？我们的亲身经历可以证明，轮回中确有快乐啊！之所以有这些感觉，都是因为自己被一些表面的、暂时的现象所蒙蔽的结果。如果我们能够了知这些所谓快乐的真相，就会对自己目前所处的岌岌可危的现状生起强烈的忧患意识。

The Buddha succinctly pointed out that there are three types of suffering. The first is suffering upon suffering, the truly painful. It is the kind of pain that everyone recognizes; it is easily noticeable, not subtle at all. This type of suffering primarily exists in the hell, hungry ghost and animal realm.

佛陀一针见血地指出：苦可以分为三种，一、苦苦。两个苦字说明了痛苦中的痛苦，真正的痛苦，也就是常人都能觉察的苦。它很明显、很粗大。苦苦主要存于地狱、饿鬼、旁生三恶趣当中。