Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Suffering

Student E: Roshi, why do people suffer?

SR: Suffer? Yeah. Suffering means, you know, spiritual suffering especially or physical suffering too. When you expect something, you have already suffering, because actually things doesn't go as you expect. So there is suffering already. When you are ill, if you do not try too much to get well, it is pretty good. It is not so bad. But if you try to get well too much, that is suffering. So when you are ill, you should accept it. “Oh, I am not so well [laughs]. Maybe someday I shall be all right.” Then you have not much suffering. So, you know, when you expect something, we have already suffering. And that expectation is not realistic enough, usually.              --------------------------- Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki  lecture 69-03-15 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com. Edited by DC  - Going through Suzuki lectures and posting anything that can stand on its own. Not looking for zingers or "the best of." I find that following these excerpts daily provides another way to experience Suzuki's teaching.