Thursday, August 10, 2023

Suffering and Joy

That something exists here is already suffering. For me that I’m here is suffering, [laughs, laughter] and how you take this suffering is the point. I think you will have a clear picture of the cause of suffering. That I am here is suffering, and maybe it is joy too [laughs]. It is an honor to be here. And it is a kind of joy. Joy is also suffering [laughs]. Not only after I have joy, but simultaneously I suffer too. Because I suffer I have joy. So, things have two sides, suffering and joy at the same time. The two sides of one coin.

—Excerpt from Shunryu Suzuki lecture - 68-06-28 - as found on shunryusuzuki.com edited by PF. Go to instagram.com/cuke_archives or cuke.com/ig for links to the full Shunryu Suzuki lecture and the source of the photo.