<blockquote>
  <p>Dukkha can perhaps be the result of activity of the ego against things which actionally doens't harm you.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>When you experience a contract, the reaction of consciousness is to give a sensation of pleasantness, unpleasantness or neutral sensation. Another habitual response that follows is craving or aversion to this. [<a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4.17-Dhatu-Vibhanga-S-m140-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dhātu Vibhaṅga Sutta</a>, <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.8-Titthayatana-S-a03.61-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Titth’ayatana Sutta</a>, <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/29.5-Salayatana-Vibhanga-S-m137-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sal-āyatana Vibhanga Sutta</a>] This is not necessarily the ego going against anything but habitual reaction. Ego is created due to thought patterns which follow, due to craving. [<a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/31.15-Tanha-Jalini-S-a4.199-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tanhā Jālinī Sutta</a>, <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/16.2-Vicarita-Tanha-S-a4.199-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Vicarita) Tanha Sutta</a>]. The main thing is not to react to sensations, being completely equanimous and knowing their arising and passing nature. [<a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/31.1-Pahana-S-s36.3-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pahāna Sutta</a>] If you react - with aversion, craving or ignorance - then only it becomes harmful, as this will create fabrication, which result in future karmic manifestations. Also, in the present, if they are pleasant and change then disappointment follows. [<a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/40a.9-Culavedalla-S-m44-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cula Vedalla Sutta</a>]</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>So can you say suffering is due to an allergic ego?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You can say it is due to allergic reaction to sense experiences with craving and aversion.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-01T02:30:12.213Z
2016-05-01T02:30:12.213Z
2018-08-14T22:06:13.773Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>As already explained, in Buddhism, all suffering arises from craving &amp; clinging. Therefore physical illness, while generating unpleasant feelings (sensations), does not in itself create suffering. For example, when the Buddha was dying, he experienced vicious physical pain but did not suffer. Mentally distinguishing between unpleasant sensations &amp; mental suffering is part of the Buddhist training. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-05T03:05:06.773Z
2016-05-05T03:05:06.773Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>An physical allergic reaction happens when the immune system is activated when it is not really necessary and harms more than it helps. </p>

<p>Dukkha can perhaps be the result of activity of the ego against things which actionally doens't harm you. </p>

<p>So can you say suffering is due to an allergic ego?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-01T18:20:43.647Z
dukkha is due to tanha (craving). dependent origination states, that craving is conditioned by feeling, contact ... ignorance. What do you mean by 'ego'?
OidaOudenEidos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-05T08:23:28.097Z
@OidaOudenEidos I think that "ego" refers to notions of "self" and/or "identity" -- for example including "I", "me", and "mine".
ChrisW
<philosophy>
Can Dukkha be considered as the consequence of a psychological allergic reaction?
# Can Dukkha be considered as the consequence of a psychological allergic reaction?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-30)

An physical allergic reaction happens when the immune system is activated when it is not really necessary and harms more than it helps.

Dukkha can perhaps be the result of activity of the ego against things which actionally doens't harm you.

So can you say suffering is due to an allergic ego?

**Tags:** philosophy

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: dukkha is due to tanha (craving). dependent origination states, that craving is conditioned by feeling, contact ... ignorance. What do you mean by 'ego'?  
> **username_2**: @username_1 I think that "ego" refers to notions of "self" and/or "identity" -- for example including "I", "me", and "mine".  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-05-01. Score: 1

> Dukkha can perhaps be the result of activity of the ego against things which actionally doens't harm you.

When you experience a contract, the reaction of consciousness is to give a sensation of pleasantness, unpleasantness or neutral sensation. Another habitual response that follows is craving or aversion to this. [[Dhātu Vibhaṅga Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4.17-Dhatu-Vibhanga-S-m140-piya.pdf), [Titth’ayatana Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.8-Titthayatana-S-a03.61-piya.pdf), [Sal-āyatana Vibhanga Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/29.5-Salayatana-Vibhanga-S-m137-piya.pdf)] This is not necessarily the ego going against anything but habitual reaction. Ego is created due to thought patterns which follow, due to craving. [[Tanhā Jālinī Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/31.15-Tanha-Jalini-S-a4.199-piya.pdf), [(Vicarita) Tanha Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/16.2-Vicarita-Tanha-S-a4.199-piya.pdf)]. The main thing is not to react to sensations, being completely equanimous and knowing their arising and passing nature. [[Pahāna Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/31.1-Pahana-S-s36.3-piya.pdf)] If you react - with aversion, craving or ignorance - then only it becomes harmful, as this will create fabrication, which result in future karmic manifestations. Also, in the present, if they are pleasant and change then disappointment follows. [[Cula Vedalla Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/40a.9-Culavedalla-S-m44-piya.pdf)]

> So can you say suffering is due to an allergic ego?

You can say it is due to allergic reaction to sense experiences with craving and aversion.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2016-05-05. Score: 0

As already explained, in Buddhism, all suffering arises from craving & clinging. Therefore physical illness, while generating unpleasant feelings (sensations), does not in itself create suffering. For example, when the Buddha was dying, he experienced vicious physical pain but did not suffer. Mentally distinguishing between unpleasant sensations & mental suffering is part of the Buddhist training.


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