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About this quote

What does it mean?
Suffering is not a penalty but a way to learn and grow.
In plain terms
Pain teaches us.
What can you take from it?
Embrace difficulties as lessons.

Where it applies

  • facing failure
  • recovering from loss

Putting it to work

  • reflect on challenges
  • seek feedback

Questions to consider

  • What hardships have taught you?
  • Can you reframe pain as training?

Another view

Not all pain leads to useful insight.

More from Shunryu Suzuka

  1. If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.

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  2. To accept some idea of truth without experiencing it is like a painting of a cake on paper which you cannot eat.

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  3. After you have practiced for a while, you will realize that it is not possible to make rapid, extraordinary progress. Even though you try very hard, the progre…

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