Richard (now Radhanath Swami) travelled to Dehra Dun to see Anandamayi Ma, an extraordinary woman who was also the guru of Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India. Anandamayi Ma defined wisdom as the ability to see everything in relation to the whole. She gave a beautiful explanation of suffering; she said all sorrow comes from the sense of me and mine. “All sorrow is due to one’s keeping apart from God. When you are with Him, all pain disappears.” She also explained to Richard that the world is endlessly oscillating between pleasure and pain; there can be no stability or security in this world. All suffering in this world is to remind us to turn our thoughts toward God who alone will give us solace.
On hearing Anandamayi Ma’s explanation of suffering, I wonder why God gives us tests and sufferings in this world; why can’t he make it easy for us and carry us back to His loving kingdom easily. Radhanath Swami says in spiritual life sufferings are important because they purify us of the material contaminations of the heart and they provide us with the strength to progress towards God. If we do not go through suffering at all, we would take spiritual life cheaply, says Radhanath Swami.
In her poem “There Is a Reason for Everything,” the poet Helen Steiner Rice wrote:
“Our Father tests us often
With suffering and with sorrow;
He tests us not to punish us,
But to help us meet tomorrow.
For growing trees are strengthened
When they withstand the storm;
And the sharp cut of a chisel
Gives the marble grace and form….
So whenever we are troubled
And when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us
To make our spirits strong. “
Radhanath Swami’s best friend, Bhakti Tirtha Swami, on whose insistence Radhanath Swami wrote ‘Journey Home’ also described God’s grace beautifully. Bhakti Tirtha Swami went through external sufferings in the form of cancer and amputations etc, especially during the last phase of his life. But he accepted these difficulties with grace and dignity, teaching all of us how to accept sufferings in this world. With heart felt gratitude to God for his sufferings, he composed the following:
“I asked for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong
I asked for wisdom, and God gave me problems to solve….
I prayed for favours, and God gave me opportunities”
I asked God to grant me patience, and God said:
“No, suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”
I received nothing I wanted
I received everything I needed.”
Radhanath Swami says that such heart-felt sentiments open our eyes to the understanding of why are sufferings and tests necessary: they help us to grow deep and take full shelter of God.
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Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
Great explanation.
View CommentVery nice message from the life of Radhanath Swami.
View CommentIn suffering we should remember God.
View CommentMany millions of thanks to Radhanath swami for the wonderful teachings..
View Commentdeep realization. Thanks for sharing
View CommentThis is real and sustainable ground for POSITIVE THINKING!
View CommentGolden statement by maharaj “If we do not go through suffering at all, we would take spiritual life cheaply”
View Commentaccepting difficulties with grace is the way to receive the Lord’s mercy. thank you for the enlightenment
View CommentBeautiful article.
View Commentvery useful website i found it very interesting
View CommentWonderful article. Has changed my perspective towards suffereing. Thank you
View CommentGreat vision to see difficulties to opportunities.
View Commentthis vision will make life blissful as there is no sorrow in life because it would be grace of god to strengthen yourself.
Sufferings are stepping stones to success.
View CommentAll suffering in this world is to remind us to turn our thoughts toward God who alone will give us solace.
View CommentGreat Explanation by his holiness, as when there will be sufferings people will be forced to take shelter of God otherwise there is the tendency of individuals that they claim themselves to be GOD. But by undergoing these suffereings they come to the conclusion that there is something HIGHER than us and than they take shelter.Thank you very much His Holiness…..
View CommentWONDERFULLLL….
View CommentAmazing understanding of the sufferings and obstacles.
View Commentwonderful understanding of suffering
View CommentReally Real Technical Knowledge.
View Commentsuffering is the zeast of everything in material world
View Commentwonderfull article maharj gave to us…..
View Commentsame this HG murari pr also taought us in voice
wonderfull
Really for wisdom how much ensity Radhanath swami has taken.Thank you for setting nice example.
View CommentThank you for sharing with us how suffering brings us one step closer to God if we have the right attitude.
View CommentWonderful article.
View CommentThank you for enlightening.
View CommentWonderful Hare Krsna !
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for this completely different yet powerful perspective towards sufferings.
View CommentIf we do not go through suffering at all, we would take spiritual life cheaply.Thank you very much swamiji for sharing such a beautiful thoughts.
View CommentGreat article !!
View CommentMany thanks to Radhanath swami for his wonderful analogies on How suffering and pain can be a wonderful impetus for progress in spiritual life.
View Comment“…why are sufferings and tests necessary: they help us to grow deep and take full shelter of God.” – HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jai!
View CommentSufferings are an opportunity to take shelter of the Supreme…