Material existence is like a vast ocean, where one is tossed around by the waves of birth, disease, old age, and death. The material energy subjects everyone to the three-fold miseries:  ādiātmik â€” miseries due to one’s own body and mind, ï»¿Ädibhautik â€” miseries due to other living entities, and Ädidaivik â€” miseries due to climatic and environmental conditions.

In this state of material bondage, there is no respite for the soul. As babies, we have needs that we can’t express, and so we cry. In adolescence, we have to grapple with bodily desires that make us suffer mental anguish. In married life, we endure the idiosyncrasies of the spouse. When we reach old age, we suffer from bodily infirmities. All through life, we endure the innumerable miseries of Maya, and finally, we suffer the pain of death. 

Reader, all this misery is not meaningless; it also has a purpose in the grand design of God. It gives us the realization that the material realm is not our permanent home. It is like the reformatory for souls like us who have turned their backs toward God.  

If we did not suffer misery here, we would never develop the desire for God. For example, if we put our hand in the fire, two things happen—the skin starts getting burnt, and the neurons create a sensation of pain in the brain. The burning of the skin is a bad thing, but the sensation of pain is a good thing. If we did not experience the pain, we would not extract our hand from the fire, and it would suffer extensive damage. The pain is thus an indication that something is wrong, which needs to be corrected. Similarly, the pain we experience in the material realm is God’s signal that we need to progress from material consciousness toward union with God.  

Reader, the Bible states: "God sometimes gives misery in our lives, to turn us away from sin, and seek eternal life." At the level of our thinking, material suffering is bad, but in the divine plan, it may be necessary for the evolution of the soul. The Shreemad Bhagvatam states: “Those blinded by power and intoxicated with opulence cannot perceive My presence. If I desire their real welfare, I drag them from their materially fortunate position.” The Ramayan explains that, “Maya is a servant of God, and its service is to torment souls who are forgetful of Him.” 

By our own efforts, we cannot conquer Maya. The only way to overcome it is to take shelter of its Master who is God by turning away from material consciousness to spiritual consciousness. This will enable us to break out of suffering and the wheel of birth and death, and attain God’s divine abode by exclusive devotion to Him. Let us then commit to a deeper level of renunciation and detachment from the world and move towards the higher goal of surrender and the attainment of divine love, divine knowledge, and God’s divine bliss!  

Be sure to watch the thought-provoking video by Swamiji that we have included on the divine purpose of worldly suffering and misery! Why is God Not Correcting Bad Things in the World? | Q/A with Swami Mukundananda. Listen to the same on SoundCloud here.

In these times of seclusion and isolation, JKYog and Swamiji are very happy to provide you and your family the online platform to engage in devotion, acquire motivational wisdom, and to grow spiritually. Click here to register yourself and the family.

As a very special offering, you can look forward to participating in the festival of Ram Navami from the comfort of your home! Join the Ram Navami Mahotsav with your family and friends in the blissful online satsang where you can immerse yourself in soulful bhajans, relish the divine pastimes of Lord Ram, engage in a special Ram Navami meditation, get darshan of the Radha Krishna Temple, and much more! The highlight of the celebration will be a special live telecast of Swami Mukundanandaji’s divine message on this auspicious occasion. All completely free, at one click from your home! Click here to register to get Zoom ID. Join the WhatsApp group for a reminder.

Reader, JKYog Online is also excited to launch a Health Webinar on the topic "Food is Medicine" on April 3rd at 8 pm CST. Dr. Varalakshmi Niranjan, Assistant Professor from UConn will be conducting this webinar on how to live a balanced, stress-free, and holistic life in this modern era. Look forward to a special Question & Answer segment to get your queries answered by the expert! This session is completely FREE! Register at www.jkyog.org/HealthyDiet.

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