Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

On Coping with Life during Illness

 

Question: How do we deal with life during an illness ?

 

Swamiji: Consider illness as a penance (tapasyaa). In penance

(tapasya) there is some hardship, but in spite of hardship, there is

no sorrow. There is a deep rooted feeling within that I an doing

austerities. Illnesses can be viewed just like penance /

austerities. Just as if you are going through it with your own will.

Illnesses are wonderful austerities.

 

That which is received (e.g. illnesses), is a means to eradicate our

sins. The situations and circumstances are provided by God, for our

betterment, for our upliftment and therefore must be viewed as an

opportunity for austerities. Even when extreme fever comes, man is

capable of feeling joyful from within.

 

Having the inner expression (bhava) and feeling of " Vasudeva Sarvam "

(All is God), one can view this situation as God has come in the

form of a fever. Now, when God has come to us in this form, what

offering (bhog) can I make to God who has come as fever ? In this

case it is medicines that we must offer (bhog) to God. But deep

within is the joy that God, has come to us in this form. It is a

wonderful feeling.

 

Just like you feel so happy and relieved when a thorn is removed

from under your skin, even though a needle is used and it hurts when

removing the thorn, yet you feel good because you know the thorn

will come out and there will be much relief. We must view all such

unfavorable situations that come in our lives in the same way. The

inner Self is becoming pure during these unfavorable times. This is

a very joyful feeling. Let us therefore always remain happy in every

situation. To the extent that we should have no wish or desire of

our own, including the desire of getting back well quicklyl. See the

current situation as a gift, a grace from God for your upliftment.