Questions to Master Deshimaru

Question

Do you have to go through sickness, death, and suffering in order to get to ku?

Answer

That is the experience of mujo impermanence, the very wellspring of Buddhism, the original experience of Buddha. How to resolve suffering? The question is at the back of almost all religions. But there is no point in telling oneself, "I must understand suffering and in order to understand I must suffer." You will surely have the experience one time or another in your life. If you practice zazen you can know your suffering objectively. Then time passes, and it is no different from a dream. In the presence of suffering it is necessary, sometimes, to observe oneself objectively, as in zazen. Then the suffering becomes less important. It fades away, just as desires and pain fade in the moment of death.