Good and bad are only in your mind. http://amzn.to/2iZOLK7
Book: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
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Good and bad in the mind
Shunryu Suzuki writes in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind that good and bad are only in your mind. Events themselves are neutral, in this view. Rain is just rain. It becomes bad when it ruins a picnic and good when it ends a drought. Our judgements depend on preferences, expectations and context.
This idea echoes the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who said that people are disturbed not by things but by their opinions about things. Cognitive behavioural therapy builds on the same insight. Changing interpretations can change emotional responses, even when circumstances stay the same.
Working with good and bad in the mind
A well-known Taoist story illustrates this. A farmer’s horse runs away, and neighbours call it bad luck. The farmer says maybe. The horse returns with wild horses, and they call it good luck. Again he says maybe. The story continues, showing how quickly labels can flip as events unfold.
In daily life, this view encourages patience. A rejected application or a cancelled plan may feel bad now, yet later it could open better opportunities. Therefore, holding judgements lightly reduces unnecessary suffering.
This does not mean ethics disappear. Suzuki speaks about perception and attachment, not about moral indifference. Harmful actions still matter. Moreover, compassion requires recognising real pain in others.
Practically, notice the labels you apply throughout the day. Try replacing terrible or perfect with more neutral descriptions. This small shift calms reactions.
Moreover, curiosity helps. Asking what else this situation might mean opens space for new possibilities.
In the end, Suzuki’s teaching invites freedom. When we see judgements as mental habits, we can choose responses with more wisdom and less automatic reaction.
In short, labels are tools, not truths. Therefore, use them lightly. For example, call a setback a surprise rather than a disaster. As a result, your response becomes calmer and more creative.
