Buddhism's first Noble Truth: unsatisfactoriness of unawakened life

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The first of the Four Noble Truths is the one most people think they know, but it's also the most misunderstood. Often it's translated as "Life is suffering," which isn't very accurate. Instead, the Buddha taught that as long as we don't understand the nature of reality -- as long as we unconsciously think of ourselves as permanent, as external factors as bringing lasting happiness -- we'll chase the kinds of pleasure that never quite satisfy us.