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A student, filled with emotion and crying, implored, "Why is there so much suffering?" Suzuki Roshi replied, "No reason.
Shunryu Suzuki
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Suffering exists without a specific reason, and it is a part of the human experience.

In this quote, Shunryu Suzuki addresses the profound question of suffering posed by a student. His response, 'No reason,' suggests that suffering is an inherent aspect of life, which cannot always be explained or understood rationally. This acknowledgment of the unpredictable and sometimes arbitrary nature of suffering encourages acceptance, urging individuals to confront their pain without seeking justification or logical reasoning.

Themes

SufferingEmotionAcceptanceLifeExperience

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on mental health awareness, one might quote this to emphasize the acceptance of suffering.

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For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
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No teaching could be more direct than just to sit down.
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When you do not realize that you are one with the river, or one with the universe, you have fear. Whether it is separated into drops or not, water is water. Our life and death are the same thing. When we realize this fact, we have no fear of death anymore.
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