ok so i had to read the "tao of pooh" for school, and i actually really liked it.

in one part of the book they were discussing a specific painting called " the vinegar tasters" each person tasting from a thing of vinegar and each representing a religion or way of viewing life or something...

anyways the buddhist person had a bitter look on his face because he sees the world as a setter of traps, a generator of illusions, and a revolving wheel of pain for all creatures.

"Buddhist often saw the way to Nirvana interrupted all the same by the bitter wind of everyday existence"

...is life really that bitter?

anyways the buddhist person had a bitter look on his face because he sees the world as a setter of traps, a generator of illusions, and a revolving wheel of pain for all creatures.

"Buddhist often saw the way to Nirvana interrupted all the same by the bitter wind of everyday existence"

...is life really that bitter?

This is a common misunderstanding. Buddha looked and saw that life is suffering. This suffering is based on the worldly filtering system which we apply to our perceptions (our attachments, delusions and anger). He taught to experience the world in the moment and to overcome our monkey mind filtering system. The “bitter wind” is from the inside out and to realize your Buddha nature is to calm the wind. MU