Suffering ~ The Ultimate Teacher

As humans we are at some point in our lives going to suffer. It could be physically or emotionally or both.

When we ponder the subject of suffering, naturally questions arise, why do some suffer more than others, why do children suffer, why must the elderly frequently suffer as they approach death? As physical beings we cannot answer these questions, so we use our reasoning. We experience a death, so naturally we expect we will suffer grief, we are stricken with a disease, therefore it must have been our unhealthy lifestyles, we struggle with depression, it must therefore be the stress brought on by career, family or poor life choices.

But what if we turn the tables on suffering and not look at it as a burden but a gift. Let us not equate suffering with the physical egotistical body, but rather a gift bestowed divinely as a path through which we may learn valuable life lessons, practice humility and tolerance and most of all to learn empathy.

Eckhart Tolle says, "Suffering drives you deeper. The paradox is that suffering is caused by identification with form and erodes identification with form. A lot of it is caused by the ego, although eventually suffering destroys the ego ~ but not until you suffer consciously. Humanity is destined to go beyond suffering, but not in the way the ego thinks.

One of the ego's many erroneous assumptions, one of its many deluded thoughts is "I should not have to suffer." Sometimes the thought gets transferred to someone close to you: "My child should not have to suffer." That thought itself lies at the root of suffering.

Suffering has a noble purpose: the evolution of consciousness and the burning up of the ego. The man on the cross is an archetypal image. He is every man and every woman. As long as you resist suffering, it is a slow process because the resistance creates more ego to burn up.

When you accept suffering, however, there is an acceleration of that process which is brought about by the fact that you suffer consciously. You can accept suffering for yourself, or you can accept it for someone else, such as your child or parent.

In the midst of conscious suffering there is already the transmutation. The FIRE of suffering becomes the LIGHT of consciousness."

As we allow our consciousness to go deeper into our suffering, we become more attuned to our soul ~ our inner light if you will. We start to recognize that the suffering serves to deepen our connection to our spirituality and the Divine. 

Oh yes, there are great lessons to be learned from suffering and great gifts to share once we accept it. But don't fall prey to the notion that you are your suffering. Do not allow your suffering to identify who you truly are. And do not let your suffering snuff out your beautiful inner light. 

Become the student, sit at the foot of your pain, allow it to be your teacher and guide as you navigate through the waters to the true awakening of your spirit.

The beauty of Reiki, meditation, yoga or other methods of deep healing within can help you in your journey towards acceptance.

With blessings and light, I wish for you that suffer to be able move towards acceptance and calm as you open to the guidance and lessons that await you ~

The depth of learning is in direct relation to the intensity of the experience ... Robert Monroe 

Always know and remember that you are more than your physical body ... Robert Monroe