The pain of failure, loss and grief serves to cleanse the debris of one’s negative patterns of thoughts and behaviour. Not only that — suffering also serves as a blast which breaks the shell around the innate wisdom and power of your soul causing them to gradually emerge from their hiding place and begin to throw light in your path. Thus, when one recognises the negative theme of one’s life and accepts it as one’s own responsibility, one moves from being a victim to being a creator of one’s own life. This gives birth to a new power which puts you on the path to transformation. “There is a secret medicine given only to those who hurt so hard they can’t hope” — Rumi, The Essential Rumi.
And so, the greater the pain faced by a person, the bigger the obstacle, the more intense the suffering, the more amazing can the transformation be, provided you take responsibility for your pain. The secret medicine is the presence of the Universal Compassion within every individual heart. This is accessed in deep meditation and contemplation. It is this which mends broken hearts, guides to higher levels of wisdom, initiates new positive habits of faith, discipline and self-confidence. It is the alchemy of awareness and a willingness to let go of all that is counterproductive to one’s growth and progress.
Why do the good suffer? Are sufferings the labour pains of birth of a new consciousness? So, if we suffer the consequences of our actions as recurring, painful life themes, why is it that the sage suffers? Is it not grossly unfair when the righteous and those who uphold ‘dharma’ (the sanctity of life) at the cost of their own lives find themselves and their loved ones go through tremendous hardships?
Could there be some other reason (besides karma) for a soul to have chosen untold suffering in a particular lifetime? When you are on the spiritual path, the lessons sometimes get tougher as you evolve. An ordeal comes as an opportunity to purify yourself further. Each time you face a challenge, be sure that it is a blessing and aid from the divine to make you stronger; to enable you to develop exactly the quality which was needed to further your ascent on the ladder of consciousness.
Submit yourself to the process, surrender to the divine wisdom and be sure that you will emerge not only victorious but cleansed and regenerated. “Do not seek friendship or acceptance from this world. Have the courage to stand alone. What support does the indivisible require? ” — Mooji.
Excerpts from Dr Shardha Batra’s The Eternal Guru Speaks: Mystical reflections on spiritual quotes
