The Debate about the Creator

2500 years ago, the Buddha said life is suffering. And then he spent his life to find the way out of suffering. Part of the answer is meditation, reflection, mindfulness. How do you explain pain, and how do you handle suffering?

This is one possible explanation of why God allows pain and suffering.

A man went to a barbershop to have his haircut and his beard trimmed. Barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't Believe that God exists."
“Why do you say that?" asked the customer

The barber joked, “I’m the one with the sharp instrument in my hand, but I won’t try to convert you. So you believe there was someone who triggered the big bang?”.

The customer said “I do believe there is a Creator, and many people use the word God”.

The Barber said, "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to retort with something smart nor to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbers shop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an un-trimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barbershop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber."I am here, and I am a barber. You can touch me. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards like that man outside."

The Barber said, "Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him”.

"O you who believe! Be patient, and excel in patience, and remain steadfast and fear Allah, that you may be successful." [3:200]