Suffering

I was attempting to relax into a heightened awareness state. Thoughts rolled into and rolled out of my mind. As is the usual practice, I let them in and let them out. As moments passed, I was thinking on suffering of man. An oft-quoted sentence is that suffering is essential for the growth of man. I began to contemplate on the need for suffering. I felt that some other parameter was instrumental in growth. As I thought further, it struck me that AWARENESS is responsible for growth, not suffering in itself. Any experience in man’s existence that brought an idea or concept into man’s awareness would lead to a growth in his understanding of his existence. Suffering is one such experience. As I began to contemplate on the outcome of suffering, I began to wonder as to what actually transpires. In an attempt to remove suffering, man stumbles on a train of thoughts that bring forth awareness of a certain idea into his mind. It may be his actions, their consequences or an abstract idea that he encounters in his interactions with others of his kind and the remainder of nature. The experience of suffering brings forth awareness in his mind of various thoughts, actions and their consequences. It usually leads to a growth in his understanding of other humans and of their collective relationships, in addition to his understanding of his physical existence. Suffering must be endured for it to be effective in its objective. This gestation period may vary depending on the individual’s desire to alleviate his suffering.
Those who chose to suffer instead do not grow. They induce despair in others, causing more suffering to others and hence to themselves. Despair rules their mind. Instead, Hope leads to growth. Some others, who consider any solution to be valid for their suffering more often than not, choose not solutions but more suffering instead. The man who endures with a desire to alleviate his suffering learns from the experience and thus continues to grow in life and in death. Death no longer is suffering for such men. In that, they are immortal for they have conquered death. They are positive role models.
It is my search for answers to cause of human suffering and the need for suffering in their life that has brought forth these thoughts into my awareness.
As with most people, I continue to question the need for my existence.
The other thought I have to ponder on is man’s actions and consequences. How is man not eligible for the “karma- phal” but has to accept the responsibility for consequences of his actions? But that will have to wait for another day.

A