Existentialism As the First Noble Truth

Existentialism by reputation emphasizes a pessimistic view of existence as suffering, I believe. Buddhism is neither pessimistic nor overly optimistic, but simply realistic. The middle way. Zen is optimistic in that it holds we can actually recover our original nature, which is entirely independent of all such delimiting concepts, and interdependent in universal emptiness. - Taiun Michael Elliston

I disagree with the way some people interpret the First Noble Truth as "Life Is Suffering," as if the Buddha taught that suffering is all-pervasive, unrelenting, and inescapable.

Anyone who has held their first-born child in their arms, or got lost in a lover's eyes, or simply enjoyed watching the moon rise or dogs play in snow knows this is not always so.

The First Noble Truth, as I see it, teaches that suffering exists.  There is the inescapable condition of sickness, old age and death, and there are also degrees of suffering that we choose for some reason to inflict upon ourselves and others.  But everything is not suffering and suffering clearly is not our constant condition.

To say otherwise is to ignore the reality of our lives.