This theoretical hypothesis extrapolates a 2023 finding—that relief after controllable stress triggers sustained dopamine release and resilience in mice—to propose that intense suffering followed by relief can produce cognitive breakthroughs in humans. The 'Total Suffering Hypothesis' suggests reward intensity correlates with total suffering endured, explaining epiphanies after historical ordeals like Śākyamuni's enlightenment or Mandela's reconciliation. Near-death experiences are reinterpreted as extreme dopamine bursts during relief, restructuring cortical connections. The paper introduces 'endogenous smart drugs'—dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin released after bearable stress with clear relief expectation—enhancing cognition without side effects. Becoming a 'sage' requires intellectual threshold, desire for Dao, and unshakable belief; lacking any leads to failure or 'darkening'.
From an evolutionary neuropsychological perspective, this paper proposes that humans' persistent pursuit of certainty originates from an ancient instinct called the Desire for Dao. When this instinct is blocked, a Restorative Instinct (anxiety) activates, driving individuals to seek definitive answers. Religion, philosophy, and divination arise to appease this anxiety. The paper describes a three-tier structure of the Wonder Family: curiosity/surprise, inquiry/exploration, and the Desire for Dao. Neural circuits involved in blocked Dao-seeking include the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and default mode network, requiring more cognitive engagement than ordinary instinct blocks. Comparing Eastern and Western civilizations, the paper argues that Chinese philosophy (Confucianism and Daoism) provides a self-consistent framework of certainty through cultivation and internalization, whereas Western philosophy remains trapped in endless questioning.