Me : Why does God give suffering ?
Voice : Who ? Me ??
Me : Yes - You !
Voice : I am not a sadist.
Me : Then why is there so much suffering in the world ?
Voice : I ask the same.
Me : Don't dodge me with your words. You know all about suffering..
Voice : I know there is pain. But, ask why is there suffering ?
Me : What is the difference ?
Voice : World of a difference.
Me : And that is ?
Voice : Pain can pierce you, but pain belongs to the mind. When pain is permitted to enter the province of the heart, it manifests into suffering.
Pain is inevitable but suffering appears as choice. Those immersed in love for God know this difference. Pain does not delude them. They only disallow it to precipitate into suffering.
Me : Hmm
Voice : When you go on your climbing trips..how is it that you are able to endure the hardships, pain and discomforts ? And that too, by choice ? Haven’t you had bleeding fingers, faced dehydration, intense fatigue, sleep deprivations, hunger bouts and hostile weather and yet you seem to love climbing. Doesn't the pain dissuade you to climb ?
Me : Nope.
Voice : That is because pain never crossed the threshold of your heart. You would not call this suffering because deep down the joy of being in the mountains superseded all the discomfort.
That is exactly how a true lover of God feels in times of intense affliction. Pain becomes a sweet gift from His Beloved which he revels in an uncanny way. Just like you in the mountains, he is not suffering.
Me : Hmm..
Voice : I feel you have another question that you want to ask Me ?
Me : Yes. Why does suffering even have to touch the one who is anchored in God ?
Voice : Those who are deeply anchored in God’s love may feel deep pain in their experience but they are not suffering. This comes from inner awareness of what is real and what is false. This comes from firm conviction knowing how precious pain is in the path of love. They know that pain is keynote of divine freedom that will release them from the bondage of falseness. They take heart in knowing that each gift of adversity is an opportunity to get closer to the Truth. They ask for strength to endure their lot and don't blame God, their fate or another.
Me : That takes lot of conviction and courage !
Voice : It takes love. It's thirst for God alone.
Me : It's ironical because one would expect that life gets easier as one chooses to get closer to God...
Voice : Because of the way God has been marketed over time, I am viewed as the One who is present only to make all adversities, misfortunes and pain simply disappear. With this promise in mind, most seekers bring themselves to follow God as they understand.
Over time, their ideas of a trouble-free existence is questioned as advertises continue to remain in their lives, obstacles do not disappear and hardships surface inspite of the prayers. The promise of bliss in their lives seems to elude them. And so, arises the belief that God gives suffering.
This is the time when the difference between faith and conviction comes to light.
Me : Hmm
Voice : The truth is that your challenges were always going to come and I have nothing to do with it. It is the natural law of cause and effect taking place. You sow what you reap, not just in this life but since lifetimes.
Your share of pain was always going to catch up with you, with or without Me.
Me : Then, what is your role as God in our lives ? You can't be just a bystander !
Voice : Ha ha. I get that a lot.
Me : And its not funny when suffering befalls.
Voice : What you think this path of love is ?
Me : Merging with God.
Voice : What do you think that means ? It's layers, layers and layers of unimaginable unveiling of your false self so you can finally merge in God. You have gathered billions of impressions since lifetimes and they must be worked upon to set you free. How can this ever be assumed to be easy, pain-free and comfortable ?
It means self-annihilation ! Its means that nothing, not even your form has any place at the threshold of divine freedom.
You feel you can efface yourself while being rooted in the pleasures of the world and yet seek God ? What about the opposites of experiences of your existence in duality ? You think your divine journey is only about what you like ?
The path of love is for the brave-hearted who is ready to relinquish everything for reaching God; where every experience is embraced with equipoise including that what is difficult to face.
You will feel dislodged from your comfort zone. It is in these times an aspirant receives My help.
Me : What help ? You wont let our pain vanish !
Voice : Yes your pain may not vanish, but I am the shield aganist the monumental force of impressions.You may gasp and choke, but I will never let you sink. You have no idea of how My love for you lets only a trickle of pain seep into your life. I take on the rest of it, for I love you very much.
If you have this conviction and love, no amount of suffering will gain power over you.
Know that I am aware of every single beat of an aching heart.
Me : So this pain is necessary ?
Voice : Perhaps …to bridge the gap between God and creation. You have moved so far from your ownselves, that pain has come as an inevitable outcome to draw you closer.
Ignorance of the working of the natural karmic laws and it's intricate interplay causes you to resist its natural flow of working which can free you, but instead you are caught up in duality and your resistance causes the pain to become a cycle of suffering. Suffering then begins to consume you and magnifies in proportion. It is allowed to reside in your heart.
Pain can remain a positive experience especially when you are in higher awareness but suffering tends to become disruptive for one’s spiritual welfare.
Have you noticed that your own pain can be the cause of more empathy, understanding and humility ?
Me : Thats true. But all that pain and suffering can really hurt…I mean it feels too intense sometimes ...
Voice : Because it's meant to. The purpose of pain is pain. Otherwise, why would it appear in the first place ?
Me : Hmm
Voice : Ironically, suffering is present to eliminate suffering itself.
With higher awareness, let each moment of pain serve you the opportunity to get one step closer to Divinity.
Me : Sigh..
Voice : But you are doing good.
Me : You think so ?
Voice : Yes - I know so.
Sometime ago, while you were enduring the weight of the wave of vicissitudes that surfaced in your life, you were standing alone by the front window. At that time your face had both - teardrops and a smile. This is the sweet anomaly of living in God's Love.
