--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true purpose is to see things as they…" description: "\"The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.\" — Shunryu Suzuki" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/shunryu-suzuki-1280_goals_the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-the_1013673.png" --- # The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe… ![“The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.” quote by Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/shunryu-suzuki-1280_goals_the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-the_1013673.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/shunryu-suzuki-1280_goals_the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-the_1013673.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/shunryu-suzuki-1280_goals_the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-the_1013673.png) > “The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.” [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He teaches that true purpose lies in seeing reality plainly, observing without attachment, and allowing events to unfold naturally. **In simple terms:** See reality plainly, observe, and let go. Key Takeaway Embrace mindfulness and non‑attachment. Themes mindfulness acceptance impermanence philosophy Mood calm insightful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - meditation practice - stress management - conflict resolution Key Concepts Zen non‑attachment present moment Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice non‑attachment daily? - What does “let go” mean in personal goals? A Different Perspective Letting go can be challenging in high‑stakes situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Observe Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observe-things-775454/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-things-1409378/) [Things Observe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-observe-2217315/) [True purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-purpose/) ## Related quotes > [“The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-true-purpose-of-zen-is-to-see-things-as-they-are-to-observe/) [Shunryū Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [If you train your mind to search for the positive things about other people, you will be surprised at how many good things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-loy-mcginnis/if-you-train-your-mind-to-search-for-the-positive-things-about-other/) [Alan Loy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-loy-mcginnis/) > [Chance is a kind of god, for it preserves many things which we do not observe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menander/chance-is-a-kind-of-god-for-it-preserves-many-things-which-we-do-not/) [Menander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menander/) > [The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-true-purpose-of-zen-is-to-see-things-as-they-are-to-observe-2/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [What did he have to mope about, really? What more did he want?...Love. Purpose. Those are the things that you can't plan for. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/what-did-he-have-to-mope-about-really-what-more-did-he-want-love/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I would much rather live a life of purpose than one in which I might have other things but not that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/i-would-much-rather-live-a-life-of-purpose-than-one-in-which-i-might/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) > [The things you need in life are those that will help you to fulfill your dominant purpose. Things you may want but not need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-things-you-need-in-life-are-those-that-will-help-you-to-fulfill/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“The ultimate purpose? There are three things: 1) to walk; 2) to see; 3) to see what you see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/the-ultimate-purpose-there-are-three-things-1-to-walk-2-to-see-3-to/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that God has a purpose for things. Everything fits together like a puzzle, but we’re looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/if-there-s-one-thing-i-know-it-s-that-god-has-a-purpose-for-things/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [“But it would serve no purpose – there are many things the ones we love don’t need to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cimadori/but-it-would-serve-no-purpose-there-are-many-things-the-ones-we-love/) [Sandra Cimadori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cimadori/) > [God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/god-is-not-concerned-about-our-plans-he-doesn-t-ask-do-you-want-to-go/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When things fall apart, consider the possibility that life knocked it down on purpose. Not to bully you, or to punish you, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-things-fall-apart-consider-the-possibility-that-life-knocked-it/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-men-may-construe-things-after-their-fashion-clean-from-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Love. Purpose. Those are things that you can't plan for. Those are things that just happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/love-purpose-those-are-things-that-you-can-t-plan-for-those-are/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to do. We will observe things, we will make fun of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-comedy-is-supposed-to-do-we-will/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) ## More by Shunryu Suzuki > [The point we emphasize is strong confidence in our original nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-point-we-emphasize-is-strong-confidence-in-our-original-nature/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [If you continue this simple practice every day, you will obtain some wonderful power. Before you attain it, it is something wonderful, but after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/if-you-continue-this-simple-practice-every-day-you-will-obtain-some/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [You want to eliminate your evil desires in order to reveal your Buddha nature, but where will you throw them away?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/you-want-to-eliminate-your-evil-desires-in-order-to-reveal-your/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Ego is a social institution with no physical reality. The ego is simply your symbol of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/ego-is-a-social-institution-with-no-physical-reality-the-ego-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the experts mind, there are few.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-beginner-s-mind-there-are-many-possibilities-in-the-experts/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The seed has no idea of being some particular plant, but it has its own form and is in perfect harmony with the ground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-seed-has-no-idea-of-being-some-particular-plant-but-it-has-its/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Whereever you are, you are one with the clouds and one with the sun and the stars you see. You are one with everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/whereever-you-are-you-are-one-with-the-clouds-and-one-with-the-sun/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [When we become truly ourselves, we just become a swinging door, and we are purely independent of, and at the same time, dependent upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/when-we-become-truly-ourselves-we-just-become-a-swinging-door-and-we/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/zen-is-not-some-fancy-special-art-of-living-our-teaching-is-just-to/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [So the secret is just to say 'Yes!' and jump off from here. Then there is no problem. It means to be yourself, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/so-the-secret-is-just-to-say-yes-and-jump-off-from-here-then-there-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Our tendency is to be interested in something that is growing in the garden, not in the bare soil itself. But if you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/our-tendency-is-to-be-interested-in-something-that-is-growing-in-the/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The world is its own magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-world-is-its-own-magic/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [People say that practicing Zen is difficult, but there is a misunderstanding as to why. It is not difficult because it is hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/people-say-that-practicing-zen-is-difficult-but-there-is-a/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Each one of us must make his own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-one-of-us-must-make-his-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The purpose of our practice is just to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-purpose-of-our-practice-is-just-to-be-yourself/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) [Explore all 262 Shunryu Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shunryu Suzuki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-they-are-to-observe-things-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-they-are-to-observe-things-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/shunryu-suzuki-1280_goals_the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-the_1013673.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/shunryu-suzuki-1280_goals_the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-the_1013673.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d3/shunryu-suzuki-1280_goals_the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-the_1013673.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it…” — Shunryu Suzuki", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shunryu Suzuki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The true purpose is to see...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-they-are-to-observe-things-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-they-are-to-observe-things-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```