衆生の人生はすべて黒歴史
Sentient being's life is all about cringe‑worthy history
2026-02-05
There are quite a few people who believe that in this world there are stars who possess remarkable talent, great beauty, high status, or power, and who live lives that others envy.
However, in reality, not a single person in the world is truly satisfied at heart. On the contrary, everyone is struggling with fundamental suffering. In this sense, it can be said that the lives of all people (sentient beings) amount to nothing other than a “cringe-worthy past.”
And it is only the Buddha who truly knows this truth.
Regarding this subtle point, we can find the following principle taught in the early Buddhist scriptures of Shakyamuni Buddha.
[Standing at his side, Nanda, a son of the gods, recited the following verse before the Venerable One:] “Time passes by, and days [and nights] move on. The beauty of youth gradually leaves [us] behind. Fix your gaze upon this dread of death, and perform wholesome deeds that bring well-being.” [The World-Honored One said:] “Time passes by, and days [and nights] move on. The beauty of youth gradually leaves [us] behind. Fix your gaze upon this dread of death, ‘abandon worldly gain and desire, and strive for tranquility.’” (The Buddha’s Dialogues with the Gods — Saṃyutta Nikāya I; translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
In other words, the fundamental reason sentient beings go on writing a “cringe-worthy history” of their lives is that they are attached to detachment from the world itself.
And the only way to cut off this root of attachment is awakening (= liberation).
Of course, there will be people in the world who object to this truth.
Yet among them, only those who are truly discerning hear the words of the correct principles taught by the Tathāgatas, understand their truth, arouse the intention to seek the right path in the right way, accumulate merit, and finally attain and abide in the peaceful state where no causes of fortune or misfortune are produced (= Nirvana).
759 All colours, forms, sounds, tastes, scents, tangible objects, and thoughts that are said to exist—those pleasing, lovable, and agreeable to the mind—
760 these are widely recognized as “pleasant” both by gods and by humans. And when they perish, they are likewise universally recognized by them as “suffering.”
761 The annihilation of one’s own body (= individual) is "ease." This is how the Noble Ones see it. This (view) held by those who (truly) see is the exact opposite of the view held by all worldly people.
762 What others call “ease,” the Noble Ones say is “suffering.” What others call “suffering,” the Noble Ones know to be “ease.” Behold this truth, difficult to grasp. The ignorant are confused precisely here. (Words of the Buddha – Sutta-nipāta, Chapter 3: The Great Chapter, 12: Two Kinds of Contemplation, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
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