It is important to reflect upon the phrasing of the First Noble Truth. It is phrased in a very clear way: 'There is suffering,' rather than, 'I suffer.'

Whenever we dwell on the thought of suffering we tend to personalise it as 'my suffering'. 'I suffer a lot - and I don't want to suffer.' This is the way our thinking mind is conditioned.

'I am suffering' always conveys the sense of 'I am somebody who is suffering' be it a little or a lot. Then the whole process of the association with one's self and one's memories kicks in. You remember all sorts of things going all the way back to when you were a baby ... and so on.

But note, the First Noble Truth does not say there is someone who has suffering. It is not personal thing; it just says that 'There is suffering'. It is not: 'Oh poor me, why do I have to suffer so much? What did I do to deserve this? Why do I have to have sorrow, pain, grief and despair? It is not fair! I do not want it. I only want happiness and security.' This kind of thinking comes from ignorance [or 'not knowing' and more like the ignorance of a child who simple 'does not know better'] which complicates everything and can result in personality problems.

LETTING GO OF SUFFERING
To let go of suffering, we have to admit it into consciousness. But the attitude or approach to suffering in Buddhist meditation should not be made from a position of: 'I am suffering' but rather, 'there is the presence of suffering'. We are not trying to identify with the problem but simply acknowledge that there is one.

It is unskilful to think in terms of: 'I get angry so easily; how do I get rid of it?' It is this self questioning that triggers off all the underlying assumptions of a self and then it becomes very confusing because the sense of 'my' problems or 'my' thoughts takes us very easily towards suppression, making judgements and criticising ourselves ... or everybody else. That is all just the result of birth thus, 'birth is suffering'.

When you just admit that there is this feeling of confusion, greed or anger, then there is an honest reflection on the way it is and you are ready to accept all conditions and/or situation as impermanent, unsatisfactory and non-self.

'There is suffering' is a very clear, precise acknowledgement that at this time, there is some feeling of unhappiness. It can range from anguish and despair to mild irritation; dukkha does not necessarily mean severe suffering.