Growing Up on the Path

Life is filled with its ups and downs. No one can skate through life problem-free. Whenever we try to run away from the difficulties in life, we short circuit the progression; we delay our growth and end up with a worse kind of suffering. If we are facing terrible times right now, we should not lament, “God, why me?” Instead we should ask, “God, what should I learn from this?” The most terrible experiences are sometimes a way of bringing to pass some hidden good, and the hardest sufferings generally have a positive and constructive purpose behind them. And, like everything else in the material world, suffering cannot last forever. Sooner or later, it must come to an end; just as the night ends when the sun rises.

Any problems we face come from ourselves, yet we keep asking: How can this be? Saints say that the individual human being is the maker of his own destiny. We reap what we sow; the sowing may be done in one life, and the reaping may be done in the same life or during subsequent lives. Whatever suffering or difficulties we go through are because of our past deeds and we receive neither more nor less. Under the law of karma, we are meted out even justice. But whatever consequences we reap from our actions are not to be considered as some sort of punishment; on the contrary, they are designed to push us towards the right path and contribute to our spiritual growth.

It is so easy to get discouraged and let these negative thoughts dominate us and hamper our spiritual growth. The little negative thoughts like “I am afraid” or “I cannot do it, it’s too hard” or even “I knew this terrible thing would happen’’ easily clutter our mind. There is a saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” We do not have to literally be tough but we need to assert a more positive outlook towards everything in life, thus enabling us to face our obstacles with maturity.

Some may say that their obstacles are not fabricated and that what they are facing is insurmountable. But nothing is insurmountable. We are here to learn that the purpose of human existence is God-realization, and the law of karma helps us and forces us to be aware of the absolute truth that sustains us. Saints have identified that truth with Shabd, the divine Word or melody. Through Shabd the creation emanates, through Shabd it ends in dissolution, and through Shabd again it comes into being. Shabd permeates every being and can only be grasped and comprehended through actual inner realization.

Says Kabir, realize the Shabd, O brother, for Shabd is the Creator Himself.
_{Kabir, The Weaver of God’s Name}

Life after life we have been in the habit of running after pleasures that only bring misery and unhappiness. We have been so absorbed in our struggles, hopes and fears that we have forgotten the real purpose of human birth, namely God-realization. All of our activities have created karma and have brought us to where we are today. We, ourselves, entwine the rope of karmas, which becomes a noose around our own neck.

Life is continuous and its purpose is development, unfoldment and growth. The lessons taught by experience are carried over from one life to the next to help us discover, little by little, the purpose of our life here on earth.

There is a divine plan in all things and our life is simply a spiritual education. The suffering brought about from our past lives is a part of this. God has never deserted us and whatever happens is for the ultimate spiritual evolution of humanity. The greatest of His gifts is the Word or Shabd that lies hidden within the human body. When we enter into the sphere of Shabd, we will end the recurring misery of endless lives. Then our soul will meet the Lord and merge with the radiant reality within.

Trials and troubles are sent by the Lord for our own good, to burn away this filth. Take your woes and sorrows in that light and turn to the Lord for solace and peace, remembering that whatever suffering we have to undergo, we have brought on ourselves by our conduct in past lives.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Quest for Light}