Taking Things Personally with Noah Levine
April 28, 2025
Buddhism primarily concerns itself with the nature of suffering and the methods by which it can be alleviated through individual effort. The Buddha consistently emphasized that his teachings focused solely on the truth of suffering, its causes, and the path to end suffering. He often refrained from addressing more esoteric questions, stating that he was not an astrologer but a teacher of how we suffer and how we might overcome it.
A thought worth reflecting upon is how much of our human suffering stems from taking things personally, even when they may indeed be personal matters. A significant portion of our distress arises from defending the self or ego.
How much of your suffering comes from taking things personally? Who are you? Who am I? What does your mind say?
All financial support for Against The Stream comes from your generosity: Dāna.
Your donations support our expenses and allow us to continue to provide the Buddha’s teachings.
Against The Stream is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization: All donations are tax deductible.
Tax ID 83-4171718