No Need for Cheap Commentary Books Anymore. A Complete Dissection of the 200-Year-Old Strong Medicine, Schopenhauer (Part 2) [Revised Edition]
【Genre】Philosophy
日本語(original) | English version | 繁體中文（台灣）版 | Tiếng Việt
This article is a revised and more accessible version based on the piece I wrote between December 28 and 29, 2025.
Hello. This is Akira.
In the previous part (Upper), we discussed the idea that “the world is my representation” and the blind force called “Will” that lies at the bottom of the heart.
In this part, let’s think together about the mechanism of suffering caused by this “Will,” and the path to freeing ourselves from it, even if only a little.
Life Is a Pendulum Between Pain and Boredom
Schopenhauer compared life to a “pendulum.”
When desire is not satisfied, pain arises.
For example, if you wake up wanting “a delicious breakfast” only to find the refrigerator empty, you feel irritated or depressed.
On a larger scale, if you work hard but are not recognized, or if your feelings are not reciprocated by someone you like, your heart aches.
Schopenhauer, Colleges & Pickleball – Tuna Thoughts
Once desire is satisfied, boredom arrives.
The moment you obtain something you’ve long wanted, you feel happy, but within a few days you start thinking, “I want something even better.”
The feeling of emptiness when you have nothing planned on a weekend afternoon, or when you finish your favorite game and think “It’s over” — this is boredom.
Unsatisfied desire → Pain
Satisfied desire → Boredom
Then a new desire is born…
This pendulum-like repetition is the basic pattern of our lives.
Temporary Salvation Through Art
One of the paths of salvation Schopenhauer proposes is art.
When you are absorbed in beautiful music, or when you stand before a magnificent painting and lose track of time, you are momentarily freed from the voice of desire.
Your mind becomes pure “seeing” or “listening,” detached from the vortex of desire.
For example, imagine blankly watching fallen leaves dancing in the park.
Normally, thoughts like “It’s cold” or “I’m hungry” would cross your mind, but when your heart is captivated by the beautiful movement of the leaves, those distractions disappear, and you simply experience the thing itself.
The Path of Compassion for Others
Another important path is compassion.
When you are only thinking about yourself, you are easily swallowed by the vortex of will.
However, when you notice others’ pain and feel that “we are suffering together,” you can create a little distance from that vortex.
For example, if you see a colleague looking tired at work, you ask, “Are you okay?”
You give up your seat on the train.
You make a small donation when you see someone in need on the news.
After such acts, you feel a warmth in your heart, right?
This is the moment when Schopenhauer’s insight that “all living beings are manifestations of the same Will” is felt bodily.
In the next part (Lower), I will talk about the “denial of the will” that Schopenhauer ultimately presents, the implications for us living in the modern world, and the bridge to Plato.
Akira
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