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 the 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 forgets 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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