One of the most ancient of religious ideas that emerges everywhere... is that life is essentially suffering. And what that means is that people are fragile and vulnerable and mortal and prone to physical decay and mental illness and to a fair share of malevolence as well. We're fragile creatures. And that means that life is hard and painful and anxiety-provoking. And you need something to set against that that's worthwhile, and that's... your positive destiny in the world.