Ask the Swami: Can Unexplained Suffering Help Us?

It would be best if you could say less and do more in your efforts to influence your friend regarding your spiritual values--less dogma and more personal change for the better. Change speaks louder than dogma. It is not wrong to be friends with anyone. Krsna is everyone's friend. You should befriend others in general and inspire them by your example. They cannot hurt you but you may be able to help them by Krsna's grace. At the same time you should avoid associating with those who are opposed to your spiritual values.

While it is true that we may not be aware of our past that appears as our present suffering, human life gives us the opportunity to become aware of the dynamics of this karmic reality. Scripture speaks to human society. If in human life we choose to ignore scripture, we suffer as a consequence of pursuing ignorance over knowledge. Even without the help of scripture, it should be apparent to any thoughtful person that there are consequences to our actions.

Either this truth is not absolute, or not all of the consequences of our actions are immediately experienced or visible. Scripture confirms the latter. What is the value of suffering without knowing why one is suffering? In answer one can ask what value there is in saying one does not know why he is suffering after ignoring the one (scripture) who explains the reason to him.

The law of karma does not directly involve God. He is not responsible for its response to our thoughts and actions. A moral God has not superimposed the law of karma on the world. Material nature exists for the jiva souls and they in turn give life to material nature. The moral nature of the law of karma, its determination of good and bad expressed as punishment and reward, is stern, honest, and austere. It is not particularly merciful or compassionate. Nature will respond to any thought or action we indulge in by creating circumstances that balance them out. Nature facilitates the fruition of all of the jiva souls' tendencies (samskaras), allowing them to work out their destiny.

This is simply the nature of the world, one activated by ourselves since time immemorial. Human life is meant for self-realization and God-realization. If someone demonstrates that he is not interested in this, nature facilitates that which he is interested in appropriately. This often involves providing a body other than a human one that is better suited for the pursuit of his interest. We can learn about this from scripture. Now you know, so you cannot plead ignorance in the future.

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