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........
Thank you so much Radhanath Swamiji
View CommentThank you for this wonderful article.
View CommentWhat deep and great analogy, if we realize this and keep in our mind always we will not find even a single ssuffering in this world. Thanks to H.H Radhanath Swami
View Commentwonderful note to see life from a proper perspective and in that way understand/experience the loving hand of God in our lives…
View CommentFor this amazing article Thank you maharaj for sharing
View CommentThank you very much for sharing this wonderful article about how we must take obstacles to be God’s blessings on us.
View CommentThanks for sharing the answer for common question all of us have.
View CommentWOnderful poem and realizations.
View CommentEspecially liked—- I received nothing I wanted
I received everything I needed
Simply amazing.Thank you very much , Maharaj.Haribol!
View CommentAll Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Anything if seen from spiritual dimension will have an explanation. And it will be far more meaningful and fulfilling unlike any mundane theory that one may put forth to give temporary solace to our heart.
Hare Krishna.
View CommentIf we have everything going goodie goodie, then we will take God for granted and will not care about Him.Sufferings are the mercy of the Lord upon us for purification of our consciousness.What Radhanath Swami says is so true.
View CommentVery enlightening article……thanks Swamiji
View CommentSo Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you Radhanath Swami for this wisdom.
View CommentThanks for the wonderful reply, radhanath swami
View CommentSufferings help us to grow deep and take full shelter of God.
View CommentI liked the point by Radhanath Swami “If we do not go through suffering at all, we would take spiritual life cheaply”.
View CommentThanx for wonderful article and realization
View CommentThis is very nice blog.In majority , those who are afflicted by sufferings(that includes me also), ultimately turns towards God and seek shelter of Him,sensing defeat from our material efforts to overcome the situations.Therefore in practical sense difficulties in one’s life are arranged by all powerful destiny to ultimately help spirit soul to realize his/her eternal position.Thank you very much sharing such nice realization.
View CommentThank you very much Maharaj.
View CommentThis article is so helpful especially for the world to step above their narrow-minded approach towards difficulties and appreciate God’s Love in all the situations of life either difficult or easy.
As a Baby sparrow has to undergo troubles coming out of the shell. But that suffering makes her strong enough to fly. If one breaks that egg shell for her to comfortably come out, she can never have the strength to fly!
View CommentThanks for this wounderful article, yes Suffering helps us to become more stronger and move us closer to Lord and seek shelter of him sincerily
View Commentthanx for sharing
View Commenta very wonderful explanation
View CommentAmazing article. Thank you very much for sharing this. It gives me immense faith on the will of the lord, and his being a loving father but also one who wants us to improve from our selfish and wrongly motivated acts.
View CommentEye opening message. Realizations come through sufferings. All glories to HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja.
View CommentWonderful article and greate explaination
View CommentIts very important in life that we constantly hear such explanations from pure devotees of the Lord so that our faith grows stronger in God inpite of all reversals that try to pull us back on our spiritual journey – The Journey Back Home (back to the spiritual world to be united with the Lord of our hearts).
View CommentVery aspiring articles with powerful quotes.
View CommentThank Radhanath swami for this wonderful article.
View CommentThanks for sharing it. This is an amazing one.
View Commentthank u MAHARAJ
View Commentvery inspiring…,
View CommentInspiring.
View CommentThank you for sharing this wonderful message through the life of Radhanath Swami.
View CommentBeautiful poetic compositions! Very touching
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for reminding us that God us what we need and not what we want.
View Commentthis article is really a soothing one for the mind and the soul ,
View Commentnice poem by H H Bhakti Tirth Swami.
View CommentWonderful explanation as to why suffering is needed to purify us and grow on the spiritual path.
View Commentmany times in times of adversity we generally feel that lord is either inactive or is not happy with me. This article helps to understand how even in case of such obstacle The LOVING father GOD want the best of of us. Thank you very much Radhanath Swami Maharaj
View Commentpain is inevitable but suffering is optional……thank you very much Maharaj
View CommentThankyou so much maharaj!!
View Commentsuffering makes one’s heart a fertile ground to turn towards God and make it a recepticle for His mercy. God’s mercy is to be seen in every situation than the physicality in itself. Thankyou
With this knowledge, one can learn, how to face sufferings. Thank you Radhanath Swami.
View Commentpain is permanent but suffering is optional
View CommentGood explaination by Radhanath Swami “Why suffering is needed to purify onself”
View Commentthank you radhanath swami maharaj for inspiring and encouraging us in our spiritual practice through your instructions and lectures,
View CommentAwesome !!
View CommentA beautiful explanation!
View CommentRadhanath Swami never fails to amaze with his explanations
View CommentAll Glories to Srila Radhanath Swami !
View CommentA beautiful article & superp poem for always remaining positive in life despite all difficulties !
Thanks for sharing it !
Hare Krishna !