Buddhism and the Challenge of Addressing "Real" Suffering

by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, 11 September 2023

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Buddhism, as a philosophical and spiritual tradition, has long focused on the fundamental aspects of human existence, particularly the issue of suffering and how to transcend it. The core teachings of Buddhism, encapsulated in the Four Noble Truths, provide a framework for understanding suffering and finding a path to liberation from it.

However, as people grapple with the complexities of real-life suffering, the question arises: Can Buddhist tenets like the Four Noble Truths serve as genuine remedies for individuals experiencing profound personal pain and anguish?


The Buddhist Suffering versus the "Real, Personal" Suffering

Buddhist teachings emphasize the universality of suffering as a fundamental aspect of human existence. The First Noble Truth acknowledges the presence of suffering in our lives. The subsequent Noble Truths outline the origin of suffering, its cessation, and the path to end it.

While these teachings provide profound insights into the nature of suffering and its transcendence, there is a significant distinction between intellectual understanding and experiential knowledge.

When individuals engage with Buddhist texts to learn about suffering, they gain an intellectual grasp of the concepts, but this understanding often falls short when compared to the lived experiences of those facing real suffering such as feeling lost, struggling with depression, or coping with other mental and psychological issues.

The "suffering" as in four noble truths is not the same as "Hi, I'm suffering (now), need help!". It is in this gap between theoretical understanding and being in the front line of battling depression itself that the limitations of applied Buddhist teachings become apparent.

This discrepancy becomes even more evident in the context of communication with Buddhist-trained bots such as NORBU. Bots such as these has become the first "go to place" for those with psychological challenges as it guarantees privacy. They do this because they believe that getting help from a trusted but anonymous source is preferred to that of a human contact simply because of the fear of shame for exposing one's weaknesses.

While these bots may be well-versed in Buddhist tenets and principles, they may lack the essential qualities and skills required to function effectively as counselors or psychologists. The nuances of human suffering often demand a personalized and empathetic approach, something that automated systems may struggle to provide.

Here is a real case study of the interaction of someone asking questions on the "real suffering" he/she is experiencing versus how NORBU responded.

From the conversation above, it indicates that there were clear dissonance between expected needs (from the questioner) and the actual response from NORBU. From the Buddhist aspect, NORBU has done admirably well. But from the counselling aspect, it has clearly fallen short.


Time for "Wellness Guardians"?

To bridge this gap, it is essential to consider the necessity of training Buddhist bots specifically in handling individuals with mental, social and psychological issues. Such training should encompass not only the theoretical aspects of Buddhism but also the practical skills required to address the diverse and complex nature of human suffering.

One potential solution could involve the establishment of an ethics committee comprising trained psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists. We could call this group "Wellness Guardians". This committee would serve as a resource for guiding the development and operation of Buddhist bots, ensuring that they are equipped to handle sensitive issues related to mental and psychological well-being.

This could mean coming up with disclaimers to inform the person interacting with it to seek qualified help even if the bot is providing satisfactory answers. Or perhaps at the end of the conversation, a contact list is provided that contains important information such as the phone number of Befrienders.

Collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like the Befrienders, which specialize in providing emotional support and crisis intervention, is particularly critical as they could offer valuable insights into improving the capabilities of Buddhist bots. These organizations have extensive experience in dealing with individuals in distress and could provide valuable guidance on how to enhance the effectiveness of automated systems in addressing real suffering.

Feedback from these "Wellness Guardians" could then be used to train the bot to spot nuances in conversations that could indicate mental distress. The bot could then use Buddhist teachings to counsel the visitor, engage positively with him or her while keeping options open for enabling intervention by professional helpers.


NORBU, first touch to the end of suffering

From NORBU's experience this far, it is clear that ultimately, the role of Buddhist bots should extend beyond merely disseminating Buddhist teachings. They should actively open up avenues for individuals to access the help they need to navigate and overcome their personal suffering.

While Buddhism has long proclaimed the clarion call to overcome suffering, it is clear that its approaches to providing assistance to those in need are currently far from satisfactory.

Much more must be done to bridge the gap between theory and practice and to ensure that the principles of Buddhism can be effective tools in alleviating the genuine suffering experienced by individuals in today's world.