23/12/2024
------------Pain, Purpose, and Panacea--------------------------
Now, when I say , I’m not restricting myself to that minor ache, a thorn prick or a bodily discomfort which one occasionally experiences. Rather, here I am talking about the deep ache of the heart or the constant unease blended with guilt, grudge and deep remorse that one feels in their entire being and is unable to do much about. Though this sort of existential discomfort may have an underlying organic element, such as organ dysfunction, the sudden firing of neurons in the brain, or a typical migraine but the pain I’m referring to is a state of agony that is more mental or psychological and less physical.
I’m not delving into the specificity of the causes because they can range from the death of a child, the loss of a pregnancy, the loss of a parent, a failed relationship, a professional setback, an exam failure, or even some forgotten childhood abuse. The causes are as varied as the beings dwelling on this planet, and for each individual, the cause is unique. Their pain is different from anyone else’s but the suffering is so uniquely similar ! Because if it were'nt then it wouldn't have motivated you to read this.
The cause is irrelevant because the pain and its associated distress are intense and unbearable for the sufferer. Mere mention or any attempt to trivialize the cause does no good. Instead, it often worsens the suffering if a friend, relative, or physician says, “This is nothing! Person X or Y had it worse,” or tries to console the sufferer with, “At least you escaped with minimal loss,” or, “At least it didn’t cause this or that.”
Often, this pain is accompanied by feelings of grudge or guilt—towards someone, something, or one’s own self. This agony often steals solace from one’s life and may result in prolonged periods of anxiety, unexplained fears, or .
Despite being a doctor, I know that doctors can’t do much about this abstract pain except prescribe a few anti-anxiety pills, some sedatives, or antidepressants. If you trouble them further, they might refer you to a psychiatrist, who, in turn, will add a few more pills and eventually recommend some obscure form of .
Today, I wish to share with you my own experiences with agony, discomfort, and soul pain. Being a co-dweller of this realm called Earth; I too have experienced similar pain due to disease, death, or the deep discomfort of near and dear ones. My own long journey in spiritual practices, meditation, occult explorations, and interactions with realized masters has made me realize that there is a unique way of dealing with such existential pain. I’m sharing this in the hope that it may help someone. (If you ahve continued reading till this than I'm sure you are quite serious to heal the self or you sincerely want to help others)
Pain troubles us, and existential pain lurks over our entire being in such a way that it shadows and blocks any ray of hope. We attempt with all our might to remove, destroy, or overpower it, but worse, just like the demons experienced by Milarepa, the demons of pain increase in size and number, leaving us helpless and hopeless.
My inquiry into the depth, nature, and freedom from pain has taught me that all such pain is deeply karmic in nature—or, as the scriptures calls it “Prarabdha”. One way to identify such karmic pain is that it is often associated with deeply unpleasant experiences of loss—loss of a limb, life, reputation, money, or relationships—and the accompanying irremediable and incorrigible damage.
What I am about to share may not provide a way to rid oneself of pain entirely, but it can at least allow us to coexist peacefully with it. An effective method for living with such torment is to inquire into the purpose of the pain. I often meet people struggling with themselves, claiming they are on a quest to find the “purpose of life.” My response to them is: before finding out the “purpose of life,” try finding the “purpose of pain” in your life.
Interestingly, my experience has been that all such karmic pain serves a profound spiritual purpose. It cleanses us of old, dogmatic ways of thinking, burns away mundane desires, illuminates the path in the darkest night, and often prepares us for the most inevitable moment of our lives—death.
It makes us receptive, kindles humility in the soul, and infuses piety into the very being of a human. It helps us understand the sufferings of mystic masters. Pain is a true companion on the path of spirituality, and that is why the masters often took away the pain of their disciples and devotees—for they knew that experiencing pain makes one spiritually mature and evolved.
So, the next time you are tossing in bed, unable to sleep, tormented by loss, or pained in the heart, ask yourself:
• What purpose does this pain serve in my life?
• Does it make me more open, humble, or receptive?
• Does it reveal what kind of human being I have been?
• Does it point to a mistake of mine?
• Does it nudge me toward the centre of cosmic consciousness?
• Or does it make me more miserable, angry, and full of hatred?
• Does it make me a bitter or sweet person ?
• Does it tell me something about myself?
• And finally, can I listen to the painful tale of someone else without being judgmental?
If you find an answer to any of these questions, then the pain, remorse, grudge, or guilt has served its purpose and can be done away with and you have covered one more milestone in your journey of healing the self and healing others !
I end writing with sense of deep respect and gratitude to my masters and to all those who unhesitatingly shared their stories of blood,sweat and pain and nudged me on my path of spiritaul evolution.
Dr.Tushar Dashora-23/12/2024
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