THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING-POINTS TO PONDER

By: Chandru Gidwani

• The person who has never felt the hand of sorrow has never really lived, for sorrow is the master-key to the gateway of one’s soul – the port of entrance to Infinite Intelligence. – N. Hill
• Nothing can be gained in the absence of suffering. Is there a mother who delivers a child without pains? She obtains a precious gift only when she bears suffering. Saints and prophets have risen through suffering. Why should we avoid suffering?
• “Suffering is the primeval stuff; it is the guide on the spiritual path and is like the visa for the journey to the Lord. Suffering is synonymous with love; it is another name for love. It must be assumed that the Lord is made of suffering and we can realize him only when we accept suffering.
Suffering is peerless and beyond praise. Take the example of the rose. The Lord has granted it a high status among flowers, but only after its acceptance of the company of thorns. Rose garlands are offered to saints. Likewise, if a seeker accepts suffering, the Lord grants him a high status.”
It is true that where there is love there is suffering also. Love is mixed in suffering as cream in milk. Love and God are one. Therefore suffering is where God is. As Shah Abdul Latif has said:

“It is never heard,
God is realized without suffering.”

Look at the accounts of various saints, lovers, fakirs and you will find that none has realized God without suffering. God can be realized only if one accepts suffering. Suffering is excellent and highly beneficial. –Dr Rochaldas
• The world is full of suffering. Birth is suffering; so is ild age; sickness and death is suffering, too. To meet a man whom one hates is suffering, to be separated from a beloved one is suffering, to be vainly struggling to satisfy one’s needs is suffering. In fact, life that is not free from desire and passion is always involved with distress. This is called the truth of suffering. – Book on Budhism
• Suffering is the guide to spiritualism and to God-realization. It is wrong to underrate the importance of suffering, and to say that suffering is not desirable. As with any birth, the birth of a Jiva is the result of labour pains; he is the product of suffering. He cannot avoid suffering. It is always with him from birth to death. He has to sustain that. It is only when a Jiva cheerfully accepts suffering that he can realize God. –Dr Rochaldas
• It is natural in this world of suffering for people to think and act selfishly and egoistically and, because of it, it is equally natural for suffering and unhappiness to follow.
• People favour themselves and neglect others. People let their own desires run into greed and lust and all manner of evil. Because of these they must suffer endlessly.
• Actually, problems are a sign of life! In fact the more problems, the more you are a part of life. The only place I’ve ever been where people have no problems is a cemetery and there they are all dead. Be glad that God trusts you with some problems. Thank him for the compliment. He believes you have what it takes to handle them.- Norman Vincent Peale
• Suffering, longing, yearning, ardour, uneasiness and restlessness for meeting the Lord constitute anguish. The thirsting desire, choking eagerness to meet the beloved is called anguish. A ‘jiva’ can gain nothing so long as he does not develop anguish for meeting the beloved. Anguish must arise first. It helps in progress towards the Lord. Anguish is very much liked by the Lord.- Dr Rochaldas
• The emotion of sorrow refines the souls of those who experience it, and gives them courage and faith to meet the trials and tribulations of struggle in a world of confusion and chaos, provided always that sorrow is accepted as a benefit and not as a curse. Resentment of sorrow causes the development of stomach ulcers, high blood pressure and general unfriendliness from other people.- N. Hill
• Sorrow has revealed to the world geniuses who never would have been recognized except for its deep, soul-searching effects.