Author: Babaji Bob Kindler

Publisher: Sarada Ramakrishna Vivekananda Associations

Published: 2006-03-12

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13:

As we take stock of all that this Winter issue of Nectar contains, it is the theme of suffering which stands out the most and begs for attention and inspection. Whether this suffering is of an emotional nature, a matter of physical ill-health, a case of mental unrest or of intellectual unsurety, it is a constant and nagging consideration on the minds of all beings in relativity. And it is just for this type of reason that teachings of the kind that appear in Nectar are so important and so necessary, for they are brought to bear upon the presence of suffering in healing fashion by the words of illumined souls such as Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Sri Sarada Devi, and others. It was this latter, the Holy Mother, who stated, “Misery, suffering, and pain — where will they go, my child? They are our companions in life.” Such admittances on the part of holy beings bring both relief and clarity to the situation, acting as a soothing lenitive to both body and mind. Moreover, the soul may also need amelioration at times, and teachings of a higher order are in store for that end. As one Christian mystic was reported to have said, “If you knew the purpose and benefit of your suffering, you would not ask that it be taken away,” leading us to conclude that suffering plays a role in both neutralizing the effects created by us on the field of action, and weaning us off of all of its causes so that we strive for higher existence.