Guest guest Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Hello and Namaste to All! I am a new member to this group. I found this topic rather interesting and very relevant. I have a quasi-theory (new term I just made up) [b-)] ; and I am curious to see what others think. It has been my experience that highly spiritual friends seem to get more than their fair share of suffering. Ouch. I am thinking that these people may be at or near their last incarnation. Kinda like getting all the debts at once. What do others think??? Much Love, Melissa , "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Quick Fox Jumped: > This is the question, "Why do we Suffer?", which brought me to > meditation. Life seemed so unfair and random. With many years of > study, answers came, and after I examined them in my heart and > compared them against my personal experience, I knew the answers to be > true. So, here is a brief response to your question. There are many > books to read which Shree Maa and Swami have translated which give > more detailed teachings on this question, but I have summarized below > the details which work best for me. > > We come into this world with all the tendencies and baggage from our > previous lives. The Masters use the analogy of shooting arrows. We > shot arrows last life, they did not land before we died, then we died. > Now we have new bodies, and those arrows we shot have to land. We > have to experience the fruits of our karma. So as each arrow lands, > some new action / reaction is automatically set up. As we react, we > shoot another arrow. This goes on and on. Now, if we react > emotionally, the next arrow shot will be erratic and cause further > disrubtive karma. > But, if we were able to pause, and think for a second before we > reacted, then the next action we preformed, the next arrow we shot, > would be more accurate, the action more balanced and harmonious, and > the karma would not harmful. > So, the question arises: how do we prepare ourselves,calm ourselves, > center ourselves, so we can stop shooting random wild arrows, and > shoot more arrows which hit our target and decrease the amount of > negative karma we create for ourselves? > > Meditation, chanting, pujas, homas, prayer: all these techniques will > calm us and help to prevent over reacting. We have to discipline > ourselves. With discipline, comes freedom. Without discipline, we > are driven by impulses and the ego. We run around in circles. > > We in this club, all work daily to discipline ourselves, using a wide > variety of techniques. > Perhaps you can share more about yourself so that we can offer > suggestions for techniques which may suit your needs and personality? > > Also, describe any techniques you have used, or use now, and tell us > how they have helped you, or, why they did not help. > > I recommend you visit Shree Maa's web site. I visited the web site, > www.shreemaa.org and went to the FAQ section of the site. There Swami > posted the following answers to this question. "Why do we suffer"? > > 1. Why do the avatars of Lakshmi (Sita/Radha etc) suffer? Why must > beings suffer pain? > > Swami's response: All manifestations suffer and grow. Pain is our > teaching - Pleasure is our examination. > > 2. Is there a time when what we thought was pain becomes a kind of > pleasure? Not in a masochistic way, but, we see our unpleasant > experiences were not exactly what we thought they were? > > Swami's response: Absolutely!!! And we appreciate those experiences > and thank God that that we had the privilege to grow in such a way > from such experiences! > > 3. When Ramakrishna, or Ramana, Nisargadatta, or Jesus, or other > evolved person, suffered in the physical body ... what does this mean? > Is the word "suffering" when used in spiritual talk limited to > emotional, attachment, and mental issues? > > Swami's response: Suffering is mental affliction. If the body is in > pain, but the mind is in bliss, who suffers? > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > Vishweshwar > > > > > > , "quickfoxjumped" > quickfoxjumped@ wrote: > > > > Why am I suffering so much in this life? How can I feel better...Is > > this my Karma? > > Sorry to be a bother anybody. But, I do not know where to turn. > > Hari OM > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Hi Melissa, and Welcome! Yeah, I think there's something to what you said about the suffering, though I don't know about the final incarnation part. I've read more than once that the guru will sometimes intensify the experience of a student's karmas so they can be burned and gotten rid of. Nirmalananda was right, I think, in saying that sadhana gets hard. Jai Maa! Chris , "Melissa" <mm7810 wrote: > > > Hello and Namaste to All! > > I am a new member to this group. I found this topic rather interesting > and very relevant. I have a quasi-theory (new term I just made up) > [b-)] ; and I am curious to see what others think. It has been my > experience that highly spiritual friends seem to get more than their > fair share of suffering. Ouch. I am thinking that these people may be > at or near their last incarnation. Kinda like getting all the debts at > once. What do others think??? > > Much Love, > > Melissa > > > , "inspectionconnection108" > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > Namaste Quick Fox Jumped: > > This is the question, "Why do we Suffer?", which brought me to > > meditation. Life seemed so unfair and random. With many years of > > study, answers came, and after I examined them in my heart and > > compared them against my personal experience, I knew the answers to be > > true. So, here is a brief response to your question. There are many > > books to read which Shree Maa and Swami have translated which give > > more detailed teachings on this question, but I have summarized below > > the details which work best for me. > > > > We come into this world with all the tendencies and baggage from our > > previous lives. The Masters use the analogy of shooting arrows. We > > shot arrows last life, they did not land before we died, then we died. > > Now we have new bodies, and those arrows we shot have to land. We > > have to experience the fruits of our karma. So as each arrow lands, > > some new action / reaction is automatically set up. As we react, we > > shoot another arrow. This goes on and on. Now, if we react > > emotionally, the next arrow shot will be erratic and cause further > > disrubtive karma. > > But, if we were able to pause, and think for a second before we > > reacted, then the next action we preformed, the next arrow we shot, > > would be more accurate, the action more balanced and harmonious, and > > the karma would not harmful. > > So, the question arises: how do we prepare ourselves,calm ourselves, > > center ourselves, so we can stop shooting random wild arrows, and > > shoot more arrows which hit our target and decrease the amount of > > negative karma we create for ourselves? > > > > Meditation, chanting, pujas, homas, prayer: all these techniques will > > calm us and help to prevent over reacting. We have to discipline > > ourselves. With discipline, comes freedom. Without discipline, we > > are driven by impulses and the ego. We run around in circles. > > > > We in this club, all work daily to discipline ourselves, using a wide > > variety of techniques. > > Perhaps you can share more about yourself so that we can offer > > suggestions for techniques which may suit your needs and personality? > > > > Also, describe any techniques you have used, or use now, and tell us > > how they have helped you, or, why they did not help. > > > > I recommend you visit Shree Maa's web site. I visited the web site, > > www.shreemaa.org and went to the FAQ section of the site. There Swami > > posted the following answers to this question. "Why do we suffer"? > > > > 1. Why do the avatars of Lakshmi (Sita/Radha etc) suffer? Why must > > beings suffer pain? > > > > Swami's response: All manifestations suffer and grow. Pain is our > > teaching - Pleasure is our examination. > > > > 2. Is there a time when what we thought was pain becomes a kind of > > pleasure? Not in a masochistic way, but, we see our unpleasant > > experiences were not exactly what we thought they were? > > > > Swami's response: Absolutely!!! And we appreciate those experiences > > and thank God that that we had the privilege to grow in such a way > > from such experiences! > > > > 3. When Ramakrishna, or Ramana, Nisargadatta, or Jesus, or other > > evolved person, suffered in the physical body ... what does this mean? > > Is the word "suffering" when used in spiritual talk limited to > > emotional, attachment, and mental issues? > > > > Swami's response: Suffering is mental affliction. If the body is in > > pain, but the mind is in bliss, who suffers? > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > Vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > > > , "quickfoxjumped" > > quickfoxjumped@ wrote: > > > > > > Why am I suffering so much in this life? How can I feel better...Is > > > this my Karma? > > > Sorry to be a bother anybody. But, I do not know where to turn. > > > Hari OM > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Namaste Melissa: It is a very interesting topic for me as well. I'm not sure that we are getting closer to enlightenment or have we just become aware of the spiritual aspect of reality. I think when we become aware of our problems in this incarnation we begin to see that there is really no rhyme or reason to the suffering. Upon further examination, we realize that we are feeling the effects of Karma. We may appear to be more spiritual because we have just turned our gaze in that direction. I personally have quite a bit of karma in the employment/financial aspect of reality amongst others. I got a book by Thomas Ashley-Farrand about mediating one's karma with mantras. I have also tried various yantras for remedies. I haven't tried the gem treatment yet though. I think the mantra/yantra will probably help more than anything. Those of us who still struggle with quite a bit of karma also do not have the control over the elements or even our bodies to such an extent that we can simply wipe out the suffering. We have to use other crutches to limp along as it were until we are stronger spiritually. Om Shanti, Shankari Kali Melissa <mm7810 > wrote: Hello and Namaste to All! I am a new member to this group. I found this topic rather interesting and very relevant. I have a quasi-theory (new term I just made up) ; and I am curious to see what others think. It has been my experience that highly spiritual friends seem to get more than their fair share of suffering. Ouch. I am thinking that these people may be at or near their last incarnation. Kinda like getting all the debts at once. What do others think??? Much Love, Melissa , "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Quick Fox Jumped: > This is the question, "Why do we Suffer?", which brought me to > meditation. Life seemed so unfair and random. With many years of > study, answers came, and after I examined them in my heart and > compared them against my personal experience, I knew the answers to be > true. So, here is a brief response to your question. There are many > books to read which Shree Maa and Swami have translated which give > more detailed teachings on this question, but I have summarized below > the details which work best for me. > > We come into this world with all the tendencies and baggage from our > previous lives. The Masters use the analogy of shooting arrows. We > shot arrows last life, they did not land before we died, then we died. > Now we have new bodies, and those arrows we shot have to land. We > have to experience the fruits of our karma. So as each arrow lands, > some new action / reaction is automatically set up. As we react, we > shoot another arrow. This goes on and on. Now, if we react > emotionally, the next arrow shot will be erratic and cause further > disrubtive karma. > But, if we were able to pause, and think for a second before we > reacted, then the next action we preformed, the next arrow we shot, > would be more accurate, the action more balanced and harmonious, and > the karma would not harmful. > So, the question arises: how do we prepare ourselves,calm ourselves, > center ourselves, so we can stop shooting random wild arrows, and > shoot more arrows which hit our target and decrease the amount of > negative karma we create for ourselves? > > Meditation, chanting, pujas, homas, prayer: all these techniques will > calm us and help to prevent over reacting. We have to discipline > ourselves. With discipline, comes freedom. Without discipline, we > are driven by impulses and the ego. We run around in circles. > > We in this club, all work daily to discipline ourselves, using a wide > variety of techniques. > Perhaps you can share more about yourself so that we can offer > suggestions for techniques which may suit your needs and personality? > > Also, describe any techniques you have used, or use now, and tell us > how they have helped you, or, why they did not help. > > I recommend you visit Shree Maa's web site. I visited the web site, > www.shreemaa.org and went to the FAQ section of the site. There Swami > posted the following answers to this question. "Why do we suffer"? > > 1. Why do the avatars of Lakshmi (Sita/Radha etc) suffer? Why must > beings suffer pain? > > Swami's response: All manifestations suffer and grow. Pain is our > teaching - Pleasure is our examination. > > 2. Is there a time when what we thought was pain becomes a kind of > pleasure? Not in a masochistic way, but, we see our unpleasant > experiences were not exactly what we thought they were? > > Swami's response: Absolutely!!! And we appreciate those experiences > and thank God that that we had the privilege to grow in such a way > from such experiences! > > 3. When Ramakrishna, or Ramana, Nisargadatta, or Jesus, or other > evolved person, suffered in the physical body ... what does this mean? > Is the word "suffering" when used in spiritual talk limited to > emotional, attachment, and mental issues? > > Swami's response: Suffering is mental affliction. If the body is in > pain, but the mind is in bliss, who suffers? > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > Vishweshwar > > > > > > , "quickfoxjumped" > quickfoxjumped@ wrote: > > > > Why am I suffering so much in this life? How can I feel better...Is > > this my Karma? > > Sorry to be a bother anybody. But, I do not know where to turn. > > Hari OM > > > No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Mail for Mobile. 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Guest guest Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 Namaste! That's an interesting thought. Maybe the closer we get to the goal, the more we get hammered, lol. Maybe as we get closer to the goal we're dealing with the more powerful ego manifestations, like in the Chandi where the most powerful ego generals and even the great ego himself, have to be battled in the end. Maybe the most potent karmas start coming up as we progress higher and higher along the path up the mountain. ??? Jai Maa!!! Melissa <mm7810 > wrote: Hello and Namaste to All! I am a new member to this group. I found this topic rather interesting and very relevant. I have a quasi-theory (new term I just made up) ; and I am curious to see what others think. It has been my experience that highly spiritual friends seem to get more than their fair share of suffering. Ouch. I am thinking that these people may be at or near their last incarnation. Kinda like getting all the debts at once. What do others think??? Much Love, Melissa , "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Quick Fox Jumped: > This is the question, "Why do we Suffer?", which brought me to > meditation. Life seemed so unfair and random. With many years of > study, answers came, and after I examined them in my heart and > compared them against my personal experience, I knew the answers to be > true. So, here is a brief response to your question. There are many > books to read which Shree Maa and Swami have translated which give > more detailed teachings on this question, but I have summarized below > the details which work best for me. > > We come into this world with all the tendencies and baggage from our > previous lives. The Masters use the analogy of shooting arrows. We > shot arrows last life, they did not land before we died, then we died. > Now we have new bodies, and those arrows we shot have to land. We > have to experience the fruits of our karma. So as each arrow lands, > some new action / reaction is automatically set up. As we react, we > shoot another arrow. This goes on and on. Now, if we react > emotionally, the next arrow shot will be erratic and cause further > disrubtive karma. > But, if we were able to pause, and think for a second before we > reacted, then the next action we preformed, the next arrow we shot, > would be more accurate, the action more balanced and harmonious, and > the karma would not harmful. > So, the question arises: how do we prepare ourselves,calm ourselves, > center ourselves, so we can stop shooting random wild arrows, and > shoot more arrows which hit our target and decrease the amount of > negative karma we create for ourselves? > > Meditation, chanting, pujas, homas, prayer: all these techniques will > calm us and help to prevent over reacting. We have to discipline > ourselves. With discipline, comes freedom. Without discipline, we > are driven by impulses and the ego. We run around in circles. > > We in this club, all work daily to discipline ourselves, using a wide > variety of techniques. > Perhaps you can share more about yourself so that we can offer > suggestions for techniques which may suit your needs and personality? > > Also, describe any techniques you have used, or use now, and tell us > how they have helped you, or, why they did not help. > > I recommend you visit Shree Maa's web site. I visited the web site, > www.shreemaa.org and went to the FAQ section of the site. There Swami > posted the following answers to this question. "Why do we suffer"? > > 1. Why do the avatars of Lakshmi (Sita/Radha etc) suffer? Why must > beings suffer pain? > > Swami's response: All manifestations suffer and grow. Pain is our > teaching - Pleasure is our examination. > > 2. Is there a time when what we thought was pain becomes a kind of > pleasure? Not in a masochistic way, but, we see our unpleasant > experiences were not exactly what we thought they were? > > Swami's response: Absolutely!!! And we appreciate those experiences > and thank God that that we had the privilege to grow in such a way > from such experiences! > > 3. When Ramakrishna, or Ramana, Nisargadatta, or Jesus, or other > evolved person, suffered in the physical body ... what does this mean? > Is the word "suffering" when used in spiritual talk limited to > emotional, attachment, and mental issues? > > Swami's response: Suffering is mental affliction. If the body is in > pain, but the mind is in bliss, who suffers? > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > Vishweshwar > > > > > > , "quickfoxjumped" > quickfoxjumped@ wrote: > > > > Why am I suffering so much in this life? How can I feel better...Is > > this my Karma? > > Sorry to be a bother anybody. But, I do not know where to turn. > > Hari OM > > > Need Mail bonding? Go to the Mail Q&A for great tips from Answers users. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 Namaste: Interesting idea. I never thought of it that way. It's rather sad that the most spiritual folks have more to deal with, but maybe they are more ready to handle such things. Like you said, the most hardened generals of the ego are the most difficult to fight. At that point though the spiritual person is ready to end the marathon, and ready to wage any battle that has to be waged for it to end. Wonderful thought for the day. Thanks. Shanti Om, Shankari Kali Nirmalananda Saraswati <nirmalananda1008 > wrote: Namaste! That's an interesting thought. Maybe the closer we get to the goal, the more we get hammered, lol. Maybe as we get closer to the goal we're dealing with the more powerful ego manifestations, like in the Chandi where the most powerful ego generals and even the great ego himself, have to be battled in the end. Maybe the most potent karmas start coming up as we progress higher and higher along the path up the mountain. ??? Jai Maa!!! Melissa <mm7810 > wrote: Hello and Namaste to All! I am a new member to this group. I found this topic rather interesting and very relevant. I have a quasi-theory (new term I just made up) ; and I am curious to see what others think. It has been my experience that highly spiritual friends seem to get more than their fair share of suffering. Ouch. I am thinking that these people may be at or near their last incarnation. Kinda like getting all the debts at once. What do others think??? Much Love, Melissa , "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Quick Fox Jumped: > This is the question, "Why do we Suffer?", which brought me to > meditation. Life seemed so unfair and random. With many years of > study, answers came, and after I examined them in my heart and > compared them against my personal experience, I knew the answers to be > true. So, here is a brief response to your question. There are many > books to read which Shree Maa and Swami have translated which give > more detailed teachings on this question, but I have summarized below > the details which work best for me. > > We come into this world with all the tendencies and baggage from our > previous lives. The Masters use the analogy of shooting arrows. We > shot arrows last life, they did not land before we died, then we died. > Now we have new bodies, and those arrows we shot have to land. We > have to experience the fruits of our karma. So as each arrow lands, > some new action / reaction is automatically set up. As we react, we > shoot another arrow. This goes on and on. Now, if we react > emotionally, the next arrow shot will be erratic and cause further > disrubtive karma. > But, if we were able to pause, and think for a second before we > reacted, then the next action we preformed, the next arrow we shot, > would be more accurate, the action more balanced and harmonious, and > the karma would not harmful. > So, the question arises: how do we prepare ourselves,calm ourselves, > center ourselves, so we can stop shooting random wild arrows, and > shoot more arrows which hit our target and decrease the amount of > negative karma we create for ourselves? > > Meditation, chanting, pujas, homas, prayer: all these techniques will > calm us and help to prevent over reacting. We have to discipline > ourselves. With discipline, comes freedom. Without discipline, we > are driven by impulses and the ego. We run around in circles. > > We in this club, all work daily to discipline ourselves, using a wide > variety of techniques. > Perhaps you can share more about yourself so that we can offer > suggestions for techniques which may suit your needs and personality? > > Also, describe any techniques you have used, or use now, and tell us > how they have helped you, or, why they did not help. > > I recommend you visit Shree Maa's web site. I visited the web site, > www.shreemaa.org and went to the FAQ section of the site. There Swami > posted the following answers to this question. "Why do we suffer"? > > 1. Why do the avatars of Lakshmi (Sita/Radha etc) suffer? Why must > beings suffer pain? > > Swami's response: All manifestations suffer and grow. Pain is our > teaching - Pleasure is our examination. > > 2. Is there a time when what we thought was pain becomes a kind of > pleasure? Not in a masochistic way, but, we see our unpleasant > experiences were not exactly what we thought they were? > > Swami's response: Absolutely!!! And we appreciate those experiences > and thank God that that we had the privilege to grow in such a way > from such experiences! > > 3. When Ramakrishna, or Ramana, Nisargadatta, or Jesus, or other > evolved person, suffered in the physical body ... what does this mean? > Is the word "suffering" when used in spiritual talk limited to > emotional, attachment, and mental issues? > > Swami's response: Suffering is mental affliction. If the body is in > pain, but the mind is in bliss, who suffers? > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > Vishweshwar > > > > > > , "quickfoxjumped" > quickfoxjumped@ wrote: > > > > Why am I suffering so much in this life? How can I feel better...Is > > this my Karma? > > Sorry to be a bother anybody. But, I do not know where to turn. > > Hari OM > > > Need Mail bonding? Go to the Mail Q&A for great tips from Answers users. 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