Adversities as Opportunities for Soul Growth
Pleasure and pain are linked closely to life. Pleasure is cherished, while pain becomes a burden and a cause of suffering. However, human soul evolves only by overcoming obstacles and adversities. In the state of pain, suffering and sorrow, a person is much closer to God than he is in the times of joy. Luxurious and easy going life makes the person insane and arrogant, while adversity ushers the possibility of refining his personality. Afflictions are created only to awaken the person engrossed in the slumber of ignorance. In the state of happiness, even an awakened person may turn ignorant, while agony could awaken even an ignorant.
Happiness is certainly cherished as it brings peace and joy, while afflictions make a person restive. But, the experience which is obtained or could be obtained from 'tough times' could be called precious. Many a times, in moments of suffering, a person gathers such worthy experiences for his life, which could never be gained in the moments of happiness.
Happiness gives a lot, while misery takes away many things from life. However, in spite of bestowing so many gifts, the former cannot give those experiences which introduce man to the reality of life. The adversity inflicts sufferings on a person, but also awakens him and then he takes his steps forward carefully. Such an alert person realizes that adversity is also an aspect of life, which should be known and understood. The adverse and painful period of life could be compared to the process of subjecting iron to the heat of the smelting-furnace. This removes the impurities from it and what is left is the pure molten iron, which could then be molded in the desired shape. Similarly, the impurities and adulterations present in gold could only be found out by heating it. Upon heating, the impurities melt and leave the gold in its pure form.
Everyone likes clean and washed cloth. But, to clean a cloth, it is treated with soap, rubbed and scrubbed. Pain and sufferings are means to purify the psyche of man in the same way, as the soap and scrubber are the mediums of cleansing the cloth. Many a times, elevated souls take birth as human beings and voluntarily bear tribulations and miseries, so that they could bear and eliminate the reserve of their destined sufferings and return to their heavenly abode.
Enduring the destined sufferings removes the obscenity of the psyche. The life of a human being is like a bubble in the great sea of consciousness. Numerous noble and wicked deeds done in our countless previous lives bring joy and miseries in our lives, according to their nature. The actions which yield their results in the same life are known as kriyaman. However, the accumulated deeds take the form of destiny and accompany the person in his various lives. To bear the consequences of these destined sufferings means to eliminate these accumulated malicious deeds. During the difficult phase of destroying the destined actions, God becomes the ultimate support. His grace can easily destroy even the effects of wicked deeds. During the adverse period, if devotion to and faith in the Almighty is kept firm, then He would surely help us. He would fill us with courage and confidence and make us cross the snares of the world.
Maharshi Aurobindo perceives sorrow as a hammer in the hands of God, which shapes and adorns the life of man. Even if this hammer causes injury, we should still adore the Almighty. On doing so, we get the support from within to bear the consequent pain. Otherwise, life gets deviated. Man cannot tolerate the moments of pain and sufferings and gets disturbed. So, is it not better to trust God in the moments of sorrow and afflictions and to leave to Him to carve and cast our life according to his wish?
Only God knows what ability is present in which person and he drives the chain of destined actions according to it. Therefore, we should never be scared of pain and sufferings and should take the shelter of the Divine in these moments even more staunchly, so that we may not get deviated from our path. We should stand up even after falling and try to improve our condition again. The lives of Mira and Prahalad were full of hardships and sorrows; every moment was as dreadful as death. But, their hearts were full of elation, adoration, faith and devotion, so they crossed even these difficult times with a smile. We should also keep taking the shelter under Divine Grace, no matter what circumstances come in our life.
"Samatvam Yoga Uchyate — Evenness of mind is yoga. Equanimity within is spiritual life." — Gita 2-48
"Yogah Karmasu Kausalam — Yoga is the dexterity in action; i.e. efficiency and dexterity in action is spiritual life." — Gita 2-50