Virtually all of us exist in a state of chronic, low-grade suffering or, as Thoreau put it, we while away our days in “quiet desperation.” It is the first and perhaps most important of the Buddha’s four noble truths, this idea of life as suffering. Yet most who read these words will say something to the effect of, “Mmm, not me. My life is going just fine, thank you very much.” They will point to a healthy bank account, vacation…