The truth shall set you free

So how does suffering end according to the East? There are various approaches, but one way is that understanding or knowing the truth will set you free from suffering.

‘The truth shall set you free’

Jesus (John 8:32)

This is not about believing in something. This is about first-hand understanding. Second-hand beliefs will not end suffering – beliefs, while useful at times, ultimately just do not cut the mustard according to Eastern traditions.

“Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.”

Buddha (c.500 BC)

Seeing things as they are will set you free

Another way of saying the same thing is that seeing things are they really are will set us free. That is all we have to do: see what is clearly and without distortion. Then, as if by magic, the by-product of this is freedom. There are 3 things that are implicit in this type of teaching (there are many others):

  1. That suffering is caused by erroneous ways of viewing or understanding this world and our place in it.
  2. That we are already free but just don’t see it clearly.
  3. That by identifying and ridding ourself of false notions, then we will realise that we have always been free.

And indeed this is exactly what many of the Eastern traditions say.