Life

We accept happiness and joy with open arms. We never question why life is being kind to us, why we are living with peace contentment and joy. We just keep enjoying it. There is nothing wrong in doing so.

But, similarly one has to accept grief, discomfort and pain as it comes one's way. There is no point in questioning why we are going through it. For there is no reason, just like there is no reason why happiness comes our way. 

Happiness and Grief, Joy and Pain, Peace and Turmoil - they don't come in equal measures. They don't cancel each other out in long run. Nor does doing good leads one to Happiness and doing evil leads one to pain. These are just explanations that we build for ourselves. So that we feel life is predictable, controllable and with a set order.

There is no order, there are no rules. Life is uncertain, and we must accept with grace every curve and turn of life. We may find meadows on the way or tumble over some sharp rock, but we must continue the walk, with grace and dignity, absorbing all experiences that life has to offer. 

Whether it is joy or pain, we must live life. We must accept and experience both ends of the spectrum. 

And we must attempt to rise beyond this spectrum. To an arena where there are no differences between good and bad, happiness and grief, joy and pain. For spectrum is nothing but our own creation. It is a blindfold that we have put, and that we alone can take off our eyes. 

True bliss can not be happiness. It can not be pain. It is the state which is beyond these emotions. Where we see the futility of all the emotions, all attachments and attain our true selves. Where we rise and become what we really are. Where we become one. With God, or whatever term we may want to use for perfection.

It is within us, it is just a matter of time & will when we uncover it. Just a matter of time & will.

[From an earlier post dated 11 Aug 2008]

Pain

Pain - physical or emotional - can be either experienced in one's own body and mind OR it can be experienced in form of helplessness that one feels when a loved one is undergoing pain. 

Pain and Pleasure, like any other duality, are bound to happen at some point or other in our lives. A large part of our lives is not controllable by self - so both pain and pleasure may come unexpected, uninvited. While we are always excited to embrace any pleasure, we are almost always reluctant to embrace pain. 

Both - pain and pleasure - are transient in nature, Hence, rejoicing in pleasure or whining in pain does not make sense. 

I have so far found it easier to adopt this when the pain or pleasure, bodily or emotional, are directly experienced by myself. I find it more difficult to remain tranquil when another person is going through pain (not pleasure) and I can not do anything to alleviate it. 

I am no one to inflict upon or alleviate any one's pain. So the matter is not about pain at all. It is about loving someone, but remaining cognizant that experiencing pain and pleasure are as much a part of that person's life (and growth?) as such experiences are part of my life.

Perhaps the trick is to break down the sense of narrow self, and enlarge it to include all beings and things. And apply the same thought as one applies to narrow self to everyone/everything else in the world.

Universal Love is the only path.