God and suffering
Why should there be suffering if there is a God?
First let us look at the concept called God. Quantum physics has
proven that everything is energy. Hindus believe that the energy is
Satchidananda (existence knowledge bliss) and is all intelligent. There is also
a state that is beyond the energy. That state is emptiness. In it is contained
all as seed. It is also impartial and a witness to everything. It is our
natural state and we are that.
Ayurveda says everything sprang from an energy base. From energy
came space, air, fire, water, and earth. Everything in this world is contained
of these five elements. To be healthy and happy one must be mindful of the
balance of these elements and follow the natural laws. It also states that one
can invoke the underlying energy base to cure incurable illnesses.
Hindus try to invoke that energy through prayers, mantra, and
tantra. The more energetic the body and the world, the more the natural laws
are followed, the more the quantum of health and wellbeing that follows. If
these practices and knowledge is disregarded, then everything degenerates and
chaos follows.
There is another angle to this. According to Hindus the world is
Vishnu's dream. Quantum physics reveals the world is a dream construct.
Therefore Hindus also believe in strict mental discipline because actions are
first reflected in the mind. Mental hygiene and mental character leads to a
sane world. Is it difficult to believe that disturbed minds lead to a disturbed
world?
This does not mean Hindus do not progress. Hinduism is not
static but dynamic and has the ability to adapt to changes. However the core
knowledge and realization reflected in Vedanta and so beautifully summarized in
the Bhagavad Gita remains the same and society progressed mindful of the core
teachings.
So why does suffering exist despite the presence of a God?
It is said that the core scriptures (as enumerated in the Vedas
and Vedantic scriptures - the prasthanatraya) have directly emerged from God.
Therefore the energy provides the knowledge. The energy is also behind the
world that runs according to that knowledge. Endowed with a thinking mind, man
created in the image of that energy needs to understand and feel the spiritual
basis of the world and act in the best interest of the collective.
This happens in every Satya Yuga. The cycle progresses to other
Yugas Dwapar and Treta where individualism and materialism progressively raise
their heads and suffering places its foot on the world. In Kali Yuga when
everything is disregarded and base passions rule, the connection with the
spirit just hangs by the thread and suffering engulfs the world. Then the world
is reset and after an intensely destructive phase Satya Yuga returns again.
God remains the impartial witness. But it is not the rogue made
out to be. For God or the primal energy is the base on which the world image is
reflected. God lives in this world like salt lives in the ocean water. The
suffering that the world undergoes is borne by God alone.
The satanic forces have turned the world on its head. The toxic
culture and extreme toxins that make up the modern civilization has poisoned
the body and mind. In such a state what is good and ennobling is rejected and
what is crude and destructive is adopted.
So how does good reestablish itself? Mahasambhuti Chakradhar had
answered this question. "This world is negative. Negativity is at its
peak. Therefore the change will come through extreme negativity. While the
world crumbles weighed down by negativity, the positive nature of the world
will emerge from the ruins. Do not blame me for the peak of negativity. That is
how I will work this time. Do not make the mistake of criticizing me. I know
what to do."
So there you have it. Suffering is inevitable when the wrong
path is taken.
What is our role?
Mahasambhuti had said, "There was the Mahabharata that engulfed a significant portion of the world. But this time we will have Mahaviswa - the war will spread to every nook and corner and touch everyone. As the war arrives at your doorstep you will be forced to take sides. Choose carefully and wisely as your action will shape your future. If you choose the positive, despite difficulties, you will achieve a higher state. That positive forces will win is guaranteed and ordained therefore fight for the better world. When needed be ready to give up your life. The Mahabharat witnessed one Arjuna. This time the youth who prefer positivity will become the million Arjunas that are needed."
"People are turning away from God, is that not a concern?"
No all, but many yes. There are reasons for this. To feel the presence of the spirit at all times three things are absolutely necessary; purity of mind, purity of body and purity of actions. A person blessed with all three will feel the presence of God at all times and the thought of union (called yoga) will be the foremost in her/his mind.
However these are rare in the Kali Yuga where the body and mind are weak and run after sensual pleasures and actions are directed at attaining material benefits alone. The lower chakras being active the higher ones are neglected. Moreover with increasing material benefits people do not feel the need for God. Worldly education brings arrogance and God seems redundant. It is not surprising for people to become agnostics or atheists at such times. As a result morality disappears and society gets disrupted.
Increased materialism does not result in internal peace and the stress that results leads to illnesses. The spirit is the basis for the health of both individuals and society. Spiritual laws are the fabric that holds civilizations together and fosters the growth of humanity.
The struggle that we see in he world is the process of the progress of matter to super-consciousness. From tamas (indolence and inaction) we move to rajas (motivated action) and to sattva (unmotivated pure action) and then transcend that stage too as we reach the state that is abangmanasagocharam (beyond the senses and the mind) which is our goal. If the majority forget their purpose in this world this process gets disturbed and instead of amrita (nectar) we are left holding the platter of visha (poison) which leads to prolonged and needless suffering. So yes, that is a concern.
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