1. Evil and Suffering in Buddhism
In Buddhism suffering is known as Dukkha, however it is better translated as “all is ill”.
Dukkha is the foundation of the entire teaching of Buddhism and all its teachings are based around it.
The Buddha famously said “I teach suffering-and the end of suffering”. This quote symbolises the religions philosophy.
Dukkha is one of the three marks of existence and one of the four noble truths, this shows the importance the Buddha placed on teaching suffering so that people could understand it and move on in their path to enlightenment.

2. Types of Dukkha
Dukkha is divided into seven well known states and 4 concealed states.
The seven well known states include: the four stages of human development which are birth, old age, sickness and death and it also includes sorrow, not getting what you desire and contact with unpleasant things. The Buddha taught that these seven states all cause Dukkha and it shows that Dukkha is unavoidable as the four stages of human development are inevitable.
There are also four concealed states of Dukkha. These show that our pleasure can cause pain to others; pleasure brings the fear of losing it; pleasure makes us desire and crave more and finally no pleasure is lasting.

3. Different aspects of Dukkha
Seven well-known states + Four concealed states =
Ordinary suffering (Dukkha- Dukkha)
Dukkha as produced by change (linked with anicca, it causes suffering when the good things end. Examples of these can include such things as; good holidays, hair-loss during old age and attachment to certain people or certain objects. During the Buddha’s teachings he says that change must happen but not all change is good. )
=Viparinama- Dukkha
Dukkha produced by conditional states (linked with anatta) =
Sarkhara- Dukkha

4. Dukkha and the Four Noble Truths
‘Samudaya’ the cause of suffering.
The Buddha taught that the cause of suffering is Tanha. Tanha means thirst and this idea is demonstrated on three levels; these are; the thirst for pleasures, thirst for existence (life) and the thirst to rid unpleasant feelings.
This second Noble Truth is linked with the Tibetan wheel of Life.
In the centre of the wheel, it has three fires; these are Akusala. The aim of the centre ring is to extinguish these fires, these are Greed, Hatred and Delusion which are all represented by a pig a snake and a cockerel.
The next ring is showing the Karma in the world we live, the imagery shown here is people moving up and people moving down, representing good Karma, and bad Karma respectively.
The next outer ring is representing the realms (or worlds) showing imagery of good and bad worlds, these realms a split into 6, the top three showing good, and the bottom three showing bad.
The outer most of the rings has what is known as the 12 Niddana’s, consisting of pictures representing different meanings. The ring is being held by a figure or concept called Yama, he is said to be the judge of the dead.

5. Nirodha-the cessation of suffering.
This freedom from Tanha and Dukkha. The Buddha taught that to end suffering is simply to replace it causes.
Here Kusala is used to extinguish Akusala. Kusala consists of faith, wisdom and discursiveness.
Magga-the eight fold path.
This Noble Truth shows Buddhists the way to end the suffering by following the eight fold path. The eight fold path is divided up into three main sections, wisdom, morality and meditation. By following each of these along the path, you will gain wisdom and be able to eliminate suffering from all sources.

6. Dukkha in the Buddha’s life
Death
Leaving his wife and son
Life as an ascetic
Seeing the four signs of an old man, a sick man, a holy man and a dead man
Birth
Death of his mother

7. Pessimistic?
Many have described Buddhism as a philosophy of suffering which has made it very pessimistic. However the Buddha only taught about Dukkha to teach people how to overcome it and treat it as impersonal that happens to everybody during their life.
Also it is important to remember that the Buddha also taught Sukkha which refers to all kind of happiness.
Buddhism aims to be the middle way and the teaching of Dukkha is aimed to be realistic. The Buddha is often sometimes referred to as “a doctor for all the ills of the world” as he focusing more on overcoming suffering than the actual causes of it.