The cycle of suffering and growth: Why discomfort is critical in a Buddhist context
| dc.contributor.author | Johnson, Kate | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-04-07T16:13:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-04-07T16:13:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This project explores the interplay between two crucial Pali concepts, Pasāda and Saṃvega, and their significance in cultivating the Buddhist path. Pasāda represents the attainment of faith, peace, serenity, and mental clarity, often inspired by a teacher’s example of wisdom or enlightenment. In contrast, Saṃvega is the intense realization of one's complacency in their suffering, accompanied by an urgent desire to seek a solution to end it. Drawing from the Pali Canon, I argue that new practitioners should first cultivate Pasāda to establish a foundation of trust and calm, before utilizing Saṃvega to propel them on their spiritual journey. This progression prevents stagnation and ensures practitioners do not merely drift aimlessly. Without Pasāda, Saṃvega can be an overwhelming force, akin to harsh punishment without guidance. In contrast, a compassionate approach begins with Pasāda, ensuring that when the urgency of Saṃvega arises, practitioners can effectively navigate the path towards liberation. This framework emphasizes a balanced approach to practice, where faith and urgency work together to support the practitioner’s growth and progress. | |
| dc.description.reviewstatus | Reviewed | |
| dc.description.scholarlevel | Undergraduate | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21748 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Victoria | |
| dc.subject | samvega | |
| dc.subject | pasāda | |
| dc.subject | Buddhism | |
| dc.subject | post-traumatic growth | |
| dc.subject | religion | |
| dc.title | The cycle of suffering and growth: Why discomfort is critical in a Buddhist context | |
| dc.type | Poster |