Suffering. It’s Purpose In Life

Suffering. It’s Purpose In Life
By Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda

Pleasure and pain alternate in human life. Painful conditions, however, are generally encountered at every step along life’s journey, while pleasant conditions are not so commonly found. But then from a higher philosophical point of view, even that which seems pleasant is not truly so. Raja Yoga states the fact that for those who have developed discriminative knowledge, even pleasant conditions are viewed as modifications of pain. The goal before an aspirant, therefore, is to become free from pain as well as pleasure, and attain infinite bliss in the state of Self-realization.

There are three types of sufferings:

1. Adhyatmika (subjective) or that arising out of body and mind. Sufferings caused by physical diseases and mental worries belong to this category. 2. Adhibhautika (objective) is suffering caused by external objects and beings. A person is subject to troubles caused by thieves, inimical persons, as well as wild animals. 3. Adhidaivika (divine or elemental) is that suffering arising from natural catastrophes in the form of floods, storms, earthquakes and so on.

From a practical point of view, it becomes important for an aspirant to avoid pain and promote harmony, peace and prosperity. But at the same time he must not develop the idea that painful conditions in life are meaning­less vexations for his soul. Rather, he must learn to accept life’s miseries with a deep philosophical insight.

No matter what might be the cause of one’s misery, one must under­stand that every painful condition is a result of the operation of a past negative Karma (action). Every experience of pleasure or pain has a Karmic cause. If this were not so, human life would be at the mercy of a world that is intrin­sically chaotic. But the world is rooted in the Divinity, and all conditions of pleasure and pain are presented in order to promote the spiritual evolu­tion of every soul.

This does not mean that a person should give up his self-effort by resign­ing to whatever situation comes his way. Rather, he must gain an insight into the fact that it is he who created a process of Karma in the past which results in a painful condition in the present, and it is he who has the possibility of changing that process of Karma so that he may minimize, re­duce, alter, or even negate that painful condition. Furthermore, he has the possibility of transforming a painful condition into a rewarding and spirit­ually fulfilling development.

This is done by firstly shunning all deeds that are based on anger, hatred, violence, greed and delusion. When the impressions of such actions in turn fructify, they give rise to painful conditions. An aspirant should there­fore be very cautious that such nega­tive Karmas are not promoted even in the smallest measure. For just as water drop by drop fills a great reservoir, even so, minor acts of indiscretion and dullness gradually gather force and become a major negative Karma.

Secondly, whenever negative con­ditions do arise in life over which one has no control, become more reflec­tive and prayerful. Develop the spirit of surrender to God. But do not pray for the removal of the pain, rather pray for the strength to endure the painful conditions so that they are unable to disturb your mental balance. Then you will develop the attitude that every painful condition is an opportunity to practice austerity. Through sufferings, your body and mind are subjected to a process of purification, which in turn allows your personality to become a recipient of the profounder blessings of life. You will automatically become more reflective and will develop sym­pathy for others’ sufferings.

However, if you do not know how to handle conditions of misery, you will develop numerous illusions. You will blame others around you for your painful situations and develop hatred and bitterness towards them. You may subject yourself to negative thoughts and thus keep your mind in a state of dejection and sorrow. But by doing so, you only intensify your own negative Karmas which in turn will give rise to more and more negative conditions. This is the process of degradation.

On the other hand, when you are able to tide over your negative condi­tions by the practice of patience, faith and understanding, you gain immense willpower. It is just as after the moon has emerged from a dark cloud, it shines brighter than before, even so, by overcoming negative Karmas your personality becomes stronger and your intellect shines with increasing lumin­osity.

Similarly with your pleasant con­ditions — they must be handled with a balanced mind. Most people become vain, proud and hard-hearted during prosperous conditions. They no longer turn to God but rather begin to glorify their own egos. Thus, unwittingly they sow seeds of negative Karmas and soon, prosperous conditions are re­placed by painful ones.

Therefore, the insight that you gain during adversity must be remem­bered and practiced during prosperity. Kabira sings, “People remember God during their sufferings, but they turn away from God when they become prosperous. If they turned to God even during their prosperity, then why should adversity ever visit them?”

But if during conditions of pros­perity you strive to develop humility, prayerfulness, and goodness, you in­tensify your Sadhana (spiritual practice), and you exercise little acts of goodness based upon love, understanding, self­lessness, compassion and kindness to­wards others, then you hasten your steps towards the Eternal Prosperity — the attainment of Self-realization where in you rise beyond pleasure and pain, and become immersed in Supreme Bliss.

It is better to encounter suffering that has the power to awaken your soul from the slumber of ignorance than prosperity that intensifies delusion. The Srimad Bhagavata tells how Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas, prayed to Krishna to provide her with occasional sufferings, so that her mind might not forget the sweetness of Divine Love.

Take recourse to Satsanga (good association). Do not associate with those who continue to fill your mind with the negative impressions of bitter­ness and sorrow. Associate with those who lighten the load of your troubles by infusing faith and divine love in your heart.

Emulate the examples of Sages and Saints. They conquered their ob­stacles and overcame their adversities by clinging to God who abides in the heart of every individual. Develop devotion to God and enjoy the sweet­ness of Divine Love, even during the bitter conditions of life. If you do, the sweetness of Love will become so impressed in your mind that you will not be shaken even during the greatest of adversities.

Practice Meditation and Spiritual Enquiry. Study the Gita, Upanishads and other scriptures, and try to gain the insight that you are essentially divine. You are not this individual personality subject to birth and death, rather you are Brahman — the Universal Self.

Wait and watch. Even this will pass away. Do not imagine that an adverse situation will continue forever. It is a passing phenomenon. Study the lives of great men. See how Rama, Yudhishthira and others had to pass through immense conditions of misery, and yet did not swerve from the path of righteousness. They knew that Dharma (righteousness) was bound to tri­umph over Adharma (unrighteousnes).

On the path leading to the cessa­tion of pain, you must strive to remove ignorance through the intuitive know­ledge of the Self. May God bless you with infinite strength to follow the spiritual path, leading to the experience of the Infinite Bliss of the Self!

“International Yoga Guide” Vol. 19, NO. 5, January 1982

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