Page 25 - NAMAH-Apr-2024

Namah Privilege of Pain

It is a bit difficult to believe that a great yogi of laws, for he rises above them and remains
such a great calm, who gives peace to infinite unaffected. Yet he uses the laws of this world
souls across the world, also had to go through as a means to bring the reign of Truth on
suffering. However, like mentioned earlier, Earth. The body has its limitations, the mind
a yogi’s suffering is different than a mortal’s has its limitations. The spirit of the yogi is
suffering. A yogi’s suffering is of a different not limited by these limitations, but he uses
character, driven by a conscious choice to the body and the mind for a higher purpose.
engage with pain and suffering to uplift
humanity. The yogi has the ability to cover “Their law he transcends but uses as his
the world’s agony with calm. The outward means.” p. 449
appearance may not reveal the depth of the
yogi’s struggle and the calm exterior serves Is Pain Indispensable?
to give peace to the human heart, yet there
is an unseen price paid by the yogi in their “The soul suffering is not eternity’s key,
internal strife. Or ransom by sorrow heaven’s demand on
life.” p. 453
This is beautifully expressed in the following
lines from Savitri: Suffering is certainly not indispensable. God
does not punish and suffering is not a ransom
“He covers the world’s agony with his calm; or a tax that is required to be on earth, to
But though to the outward eye no sign appears progress here.
And peace is given to our torn human hearts,
The struggle is there and paid the unseen price; Neither is pain indispensable, nor must
The fire, the strife, the wrestle are within.” p. 446 one invite pain and suffering into one’s
life to progress. When difficulties come,
This kind of suffering taken by great yogis one must rise above them and take them as
is hardly known to anyone. It is borne for opportunities to progress, but one must never
humanity, who indeed are in love with their proactively invite difficulties.
own chains and ignorance and wish to stay
in comfort and the illusory world of pleasure “Yes, there are happy ways near to God’s sun;
and it is borne alone. But few are they who tread the sunlit path;
Only the pure in soul can walk in light.” p. 448
“Hard is the world-redeemer’s heavy task;
... The simple formula to begin to walk the
This world is in love with its own ignorance….” p. 448 path without pain and suffering is to begin
to live one’s daily life as a pilgrimage, as an
When, as a sadhak or a yogi, one undertakes offering, remembering the Divinity within
pain and suffering, it is a means for growth, and offering all one thinks, feels, does, is to
progress, evolution, the triumph of Divine That…. And to willingly begin to sacrifice —
Love on Earth. The limitations of this world offer the lower nature and concentrate on the
are like an unchangeable law to most ordinary highest in oneself at all points in time.
human beings. The yogi transcends those

25