Page 717 - Bodhayanti Parasparam Vol 6

proper attitude towards it with is dealt with great insight, compassion and pragmatism by the Great Master. Maintaining equanimity in the face of adversity demands moral and spiritual courage, a profound goal clarity and a never say die attitude towards the attainment of the goal. It also reflects a realistic spirit which acknowledges suffering/pain is very much part of the life process. The new born does not come into the world without the birth pangs and labour pain of the mother who even desires death in lieu of the pain, of course only as long as the pain endures and is endured. The moment she sees the child delivered she goes into raptures of joy and feels that it is all worth the trouble. This is true of any creative process.
While it may be normal, in the unenlightened state to shun pain and run after pleasure, it becomes a worthy spiritual condition to welcome suffering as divine gift and be thankful for the same as we are exhorted to in the 5th Commandment. Our Master’s greatness from the practical angle lies in open acknowledgement of suffering or misery in life paralleling in this respect Lord Buddha who recognized the existence of suffering making it the first Noble truth. Thus one can not be really happy under all circumstances unless he learns the proper place for suffering in spiritual life recognizing that enlightenment and transformation are painful processes though ending ultimately in the crowning success of becoming a real man.
The subject of the nature of misery and sufferings are extensively dealt with in various writings of the Master and we find all the important guidelines in the work Silence Speaks-Problem of living. It is also extensively discussed in the articles ‘Path of Pain’ and ‘This and That have Gone’ published in BP V3. There has
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