Suffering is not a foreign concept but is very much part of our lives. We need to face up to this reality, says AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
Yes, this is a stark reality of the creation. The cosmic design is more or less based on pain. practically, everything significant starts with pain only. Let us take birth. It is painful both to the mother as well as to the child. We get to the learning stage and it is quite painful. Children have to be forced to study. Studying over, earning your livelihood is no picnic either. One may imagine that playing games is fun. It can be unless you wish to become good in it. Ask an international athlete the extent of pain which has to be endured to reach that high level. And when you become a parent, you get started on a long journey of accepting pain to fulfill your responsibility well. The list goes on.
Lord Krishna has warned us about the reality of pain in this world. He describes it as an impermanent place of miseries. (The Geeta 7.15), where misery comes and goes. (2.14) Relatively successful people may feel otherwise when the going is good, but material success brings tangible material benefits not intangibles like freedom from pain or peace. People do realise sooner or later, that suffering is not a foreign concept but is very much part of our lives. Therefore, do not live in denial. We need to face up to this reality.
Unfortunately, with the modern civilisation getting more and more material, we are doing just the opposite; we try to obscure this basic truth in our day to day lives. Comforts should never be confused with elimination of the pain. One can be in the most comfortable surroundings but could still be suffering from pain. It is no wonder that pills are in such vogue. What is opioid crisis afflicting the USA? One needs to build tolerance — an essential quality to exist well. I am not suggesting that pills have no place in our lives; their overuse is what should be checked. Otherwise as we try to run away from the reality, we invite more trouble.
Acceptance brings many benefits. In the verse # 2.14 quoted earlier, the Lord counsels toleration because living in denial of the reality will not help. In the next verse, Lord Krishna speaks very highly of those who are not disturbed in painful situations; who remain equipiosed. They, He states, deserve eternal life. (2.15) Those, who deny the truth, suffer as has been mentioned earlier. Wise persons accept some pain to avoid a bigger pain. For example, those who exercise regularly have embraced taking pains for a healthier life. Similarly, those who are disciplined in life, that is, control their minds, are much better off than those who succumb to their uncontrolled minds.
Non-acceptance of the existential reality of the material creation hurts in many more ways. Why are mental diseases proliferating? Because fear of pain overpowers. More one tries to avoid any physical pain, one opens more avenues for mental agony. What are anxieties, fears, depression, panic attacks, etc. except unwillingness to tolerate what one cannot avoid? It is not being suggested that one should embrace pain but if one is sincere in wanting to be peaceful, one should accept that avoiding pain altogether is an impossibility.
These are some of the ways by which pain can be minimised. A good connection with God gets us the right guidance and help. Do all duties. This is really helpful, because these are small pains, which help avoid big pains. One should strengthen oneself in whichever possible like enhancing mental strength, improving physical health, the strength of the soul (‘atmabala’), emotional and intellectual strength. Life starts with pain only but if we live as guided by God, life can be quite pleasant, some pain notwithstanding.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com
