Sufferings

The search for a spiritual path is pursued by human beings because of the sufferings. How much ever the human mind hates the sufferings, it is the sufferings that lay the road to pursue the Truth. Every life is in pursuit of endless happiness which is described in the scriptures as Bliss. Bliss is explained in the “Anandavalli” of Taittriya Upanishad as one hundred to the power of ten of normal human happiness. But before we pursue the Bliss, we need to know the opposite of it as it is impossible to measure Bliss without understanding what is suffering and how it is caused. As we all know, the pair of opposites help us measure the value of each other.

Once we recognize the need for a spiritual path, the teachings that are available are not homogeneous and mutually compatible creating confusion to the human mind. We don’t get a single collation of all teachings when we search humanity’s spiritual heritage, both ancient and contemporary creating utter confusion in the human mind.

Eventually, we end up combining the teachings of many and create an eclectic solution from Buddhism’s mindfulness meditation, Hinduism’s mantra meditation, Christianity’s prayer with Sufi dancing, Jewish Kabbala teachings and Tibetan visualization exercises. This eclectic method may help us to substantially move away from worldly and materialistic thinking, it doesn’t fully resolve the sufferings we face in real life. In other words, this vehicle doesn’t take us to the destination.

Our goal in life is to pursue happiness and understand the root cause of the sufferings and unfortunately, the solution can be derived only by our own investigation and self-inquiry than plenty of teachings available off the shelf. The teachings are guidelines and are not instructions customized for everyone’s needs created by their inherent nature. The prime requirement is a way to the end of suffering. In making this investigation, there are three criteria. One is to find a full and accurate picture of the range of sufferings. Second is to find a correct analysis of the causes of such sufferings and third and final is which path offers solution for removal of such sufferings at the source which means the path should eradicate the causes than the sufferings.

Let us examine the root causes of sufferings. They are a) impermanence making life insecure and uncertain, b) desires and attachments which lead to karma and bondage, c) delusion and ignorance caused by Maya, d) repeated births and deaths, e) attraction and aversion to pair of opposites, f) contact and separation from objects of desires, g) attachment to sense objects, h) ownership and doership, i) human qualities Rajasic, Tamosic and Satwic influencing thoughts and actions, j) demonic qualities and evil nature characterized by pride, lust, anger, greed and envy, k) lack of faith in Self and l) lack of discretion and judgment.

Now, one wonders with these many root causes, where one begin to comprehend them and try to eliminate them. We are running against time. Right from spiritual gurus to scientists are all saying time is just a concept and illusion and it is created because of human memory. Without human memory, time doesn’t exist. It is the memory that projects lineal progression of events happening in life. Let us not worry about time.

Let us begin inquiry as to what is transient in life and how to find what is permanent, what brings our thoughts, how do we develop desires and attachments, how do we find out what is real and unreal, what caused us to come into existence by studying how our mind works to understand our encryption, how one practices equanimity, how can we control disappointments by controlling the expectations, how can one remain unattached sense objects, how can we perform actions with no emotions attached, how can we develop more Satwic qualities, how do we control our demonic qualities that erupts from time to time like a volcanic eruptions, how do I believe there is a great source that is ready and willing to guide me to pursue the ultimate happiness and how do I use my discrimination power to make proper judgment about right living.

Pain killers are only for killing the pain and they are not permanent solutions. We need to find what caused the pain and remove the root cause of the pain. Band-Aid works only for little bit of bleeding and if we have major wound, we need to fix it through surgery and stiches. Let us not be constrained by time and get inside of us to investigate with a hope that we will resolve our sufferings forever.The one which causes the pain, the mind, is also capable of finding the solution, if we find the right path to investigate ourselves.

 

Dear Kamalji,

Thank you for your first quick response to this thread. Most of the time, what we do is Band-Aid solution and we really need to get into the depth of the root causes for our sufferings and eliminate them. I am glad you enjoyed reading it. Wish you a very happy holi as well.

Viswa

 

Dear Vani,

It is amazing how we end up finding the root cause of our sufferings every time we attempt to journey inside of us and find the reasons. If we keep pursuing happiness from outside without finding the root cause of our sufferings from inside, we end up disappointing ourselves. Searching for happiness outside is like instead of searching for the keys in the dark room inside our house, we search for the keys where there are more lights.

Viswa

 

Dear Smt. Srinivasan:

Thank you for your visit to this thread and I was eagerly looking forward to your response. You are right. We need to keep trying no matter how long it takes whether it is years or even many lives. That is why I have mentioned that time is only man-made because it is his/her memory that assigns linear time frame for each experience. Like what I said in another thread, it is a marathon where only goal is fixed and not the time.

Viswa

 

Dear Smt. Jayasala:

When I get such wonderful responses from you, it gives me a great sense of fulfillment and a purpose to write more. What a delightful response this is! I remember reading Kunti's request to Lord Krishna to keep her in sufferings as she tends to keep Him in her thoughts regularly.

This is absolute truth and the human mind works that way always. Moreover, if there is no suffering, we will not understand the value of happiness. After all, suffering is nothing but absence of happiness and happiness is the absence of suffering. If the pair of opposites doesn't exist, the goal of the humanity will get into trouble. If there is no Maya, we won't be seeking Truth.

It is the suffering of the human that gives him/her a lot of courage and strength and ability to overcome the suffering. It develops character that not only believes the existence of a single source but also seek.

Very well said. Isn't it what happens when we visit a Temple? The Lord is inside a dark Sanctum Sanctorum and when the camphor is lighted (symbolic removal of ignorance with knowledge), we have the dharshan of the Lord. When faith, devotion and human effort are aligned, we get dharshan of the divinity.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of the farmer.

Viswa