Overcoming Vicissitudes in Life

The article talks about:

there is ‘also’ dukkha in life. – first Noble Truth of Lord Buddha

• Overcoming difficulties.
• “Law of cycles” and the “Law of change”
• Levels of understanding the “Law of cycles” and the “Law of change”.
• “Law of Cause and Effect”.

Let us discuss today about overcoming difficulties or vicissitudes in life; rising above suffering or dukkha.

Suffering is a very tough word. To be more apt, there is ‘also’ dukkha in life. Actually, this is also the first Noble Truth of Lord Buddha, which was wrongly interpreted as, “life is suffering”. Life is full of happy situations and sad situations, hard times and pleasant times, pleasurable events, and disagreeable events. So, suffering is only part of it. That is to say, there is also difficulty in life; not that life is only Dukha!

There are many causes for this dukkha. To be able to come out of the vicissitudes or difficulties, you have to really explore the numerous reasons for the suffering. When you address the causes, you will certainly come out of the misery.

There are many causes. In this session, we shall discuss a few of them:

1. Life is governed by cycles. Also, life is governed by change. We term them as the “Law of cycles” and the “Law of change”.
   
   In general, our expectation is that we should be in a happy and comfortable state and remain like that permanently. This is not practical. And these unrealistic expectations are the cause for some of these vicissitudes.
   
   Why do we have these unrealistic expectations? This is because we are not able to understand the “Law of cycles” and “Law of change”.
   
   After day comes night and after every night arises a new day. Every season is followed by a different season. This is the “Law of Cycles”. But in the long run, there is also a change taking place. You are moving from childhood to adulthood; further to middle age and then to old age. This is the “Law of change” and you do not want this to happen. After coming to a certain age, you do not want the body to grow any older. That is an unrealistic expectation. The “Law of change” is also known as the “Law of impermanence”.
   
   If you understand these laws, your expectations will transform. You have to practice deep discernment. If you take a look at Sanathana Dharma or some of the theosophical studies, the first important point on the evolutionary path is using Viveka or discernment. We have to use our thinking faculty and understand where we are, what is expected, what is reasonable, what is practicable and what is real etc. When you understand and address the causes, you will flow with the cycle; you will flow with the change! Hence, the experience of these vicissitudes will be minimized.
   
   Therefore, in physical life there are difficulties; obviously, they cannot be totally eliminated. However, by understanding, you can handle them better.
   
   
2. There are many levels of understanding the “Law of cycles” and the “Law of change”. We are born into this body. Whatever is born will cease to exist or get destroyed one day! What starts will certainly end. That is to say, everything or everyone is transient. You see that life is changing and people transit their bodies one day. But, when it comes to yourself, you think you are not going to leave the body. Get to reality, practice discernment!
   
   Your physical life is not everlasting. Thus, it is too short to be wasted. There is a purpose for coming into the body. Discern this. Why do you come into the body? Look into the deeper cause.
   
   Your body is supported by Mother Earth. Mother Earth is carrying your body and moving. You are a load on Mother Earth, maybe only micro, but still it is. You are consuming the resources of Mother Earth. What you discard is handled by Mother Earth. All this suggests that you are being sustained, maintained, supported, and provided by Mother Earth. We need energy to survive. We get energy from the Sun too. You must realize that your body is supported by many! Therefore, you have an obligation to give back something to Mother Earth and others. Also, you must have gratitude.
   
   If you keep wallowing in these difficult situations, which are also undergoing change; and without considering it, get into sadness and remorse due to the past, you waste the present and destroy your future. Therefore, please recognize these laws; that the time in this physical world is transient and is very important! You do not have a lot of time to while away. Hence, you must let go of the unnecessary past and move forward.
   
   
3. Earth is changing too. It is undergoing a process. There is a greater cycle of yugas, i.e., golden age to dark age and so on. We shall discuss it in the coming sessions.
   
   
4. If everything is temporary, nothing is permanent, then why do we come and go? Is there a purpose? In all that is passing, in all the law of cycles and change, in all the difficulty, there is something that’s happening. You the soul is growing, which is permanent. You carry your spiritual development into future incarnations, that is undying.
   
   There is something which is eternal and perpetual, that which you can carry on to the next incarnation! So, there is actually no death! It is only transitioning from one state to another state. You transit from this body to a higher body and to another higher body and then maybe to a still higher body. Then again you get back, for the purpose of further development.
   
   
5. There is another principle to be grasped, the “Law of Cause and Effect”. This is also termed as “Law of Karma” or “Law of Entitlement”. Its corollary is “As you sow, you reap”. It implies that for everything there is a purpose or a reason.
   
   

“Law of karma” is not fatalistic. It is an instrument for our evolution if we understand it. When you go through the vicissitudes, you become stronger and compassionate. If you realize that there is a purpose, you will not feel the difficulty. You will understand it and go through the course of action. It is like you undergo a trial. When you go for a test and pass it, you are boosted, you are ready for the next trial. It is a process.