Out of the wave: The meaning of suffering and relief from suffering as described in autobiographies by survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

摘要

The aim of this study was to explore the meaning of suffering and relief from suffering as described in autobiographies byntourists who experienced the tsunami on 26 December 2004 and lost loved ones. A lifeworld approach, inspired by thenFrench philosopher Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of perception, was chosen for the theoretical framework. Thisncatastrophe totally changed the survivors’ world within a moment. In this new world, there were three main phases: thenpower of remaining focused, a life of despair, and the unbearable becoming bearable. Life turns into a matter of making thenunbearable bearable. Such challenging experiences are discussed in terms of the philosophy of Weil, Jaspers, and Merleau-nPonty. The survivors of the tsunami catastrophe were facing a boundary situation and ‘‘le malheur,’’ the unthinkablenmisfortune. Even at this lowest level of misfortune, joy is possible to experience. This is part of the survivors’ ambivalentnexperiences of their lifeworld. In this world of the uttermost despair there are also rays of hope, joy, and new life possibilities.