Practical Lessons In Suffering

Last night, I had a dream. A cell in my stomach lining started talking to me, letting fall pearls of wisdom. Could it have been the brain cell of a yogi in a previous incarnation, I wondered. Cell: Why are you so paranoid about suffering? KK: What do you mean? My suffering is a physical or mental pain that is so very real. Cell: I don't say that suffering is not genuine. But look at me. I am a cell in the lining of your stomach. I am constantly exposed to corrosive digestive acids. Are you aware that I don't live more than two days? KK: No, I didn't know that.

But I do know that different living entities have different life spans. Cell: The point is that I am aware why I am "suffering" while most of you humans are not aware. That is why you keep asking, "Why has God created so much suffering?" KK: You seem to know the answer. Cell: Yes. You see, I am but a miniscule part of your body which is a trillion times bigger and more complex than me. I perform a very limited function that contributes to the digestion of food that you eat. In effect, I am a small yet vital cogwheel in the giant machine that your body system is.

Even a small wheel malfunctioning can cause the machine to not work properly. So, though I suffer every moment of my short life, I know that is my role in the big picture of your body. KK: You seem to be such a fine soul! But what is the lesson for me? Cell: You as an individual are similarly just a very small cogwheel in the giant machine of this creation. The Creator has assigned a certain function to you that contributes to the working of the machine. Each experience of yours, good as well as bad, is as per the Creator's design.

So, do you get it now why your so-called suffering has a miniscule and yet an important part to play in the big picture of the Creator? KK: You seem to be quite a jnani in these matters. I must confess that I am already half convinced. Cell: Okay. Consider another metaphorical situation. Think of a movie. The script writer and director create an interesting drama that has different masalas in it -- romance, comedy, tragedy and action. There are heroic as well as villainous characters playing their part as per the script.

Now, one may ask, why is the heroine suffering at the hands of the villain? The answer is that it makes for an interesting plot. Who will see a movie that's boring? Similarly, the Creator has created an interesting movie for His own purpose. All you have to do is to realise this truth and play out your character in constant awareness. An actor knows who she really is. She is aware that the character she is playing is only a put-on. As such, all her experiences depicted on the screen do not touch the core of her being.