What experiences in life helped you grow the most?
The narrative emphasizes that life’s hardships are essential for personal growth, akin to iron ore transforming in a blast furnace. Such struggles cultivate strength and resilience, as evidenced by historical figures like Buddha and Lord Ram, who faced considerable suffering despite their exalted statuses. The text reflects on the inevitability of pain and the importance of perseverance in overcoming it. Ultimately, these experiences teach valuable lessons about patience, hard work, and the futility of expectations, shaping individuals into more practical and emotionally aware beings.
Hard times of life are a boon in disguise. They cause pain and suffering, so much so that it becomes unbearable and excruciating at times. The difficult phase in life is inevitable and can’t be avoided. The hardships train and adopt the body of an organism according to the situation and lead to a variety in life. It is like a blast furnace where iron ore transforms and comes out in the pure form of iron.
A blast furnace can serve as an analogous example to illustrate the point. A furnace where the temperature reaches up to three thousand degrees Celsius. In such a high scorching heat, the iron ore, in the presence of coal, undergoes a process of reduction to form iron, a metal known for its utility, strength and elasticity.
Like the iron ore undergoing harsh temperature treatment in a blast furnace, the life of an organism also undergoes the process of extraction of good qualities from it. It is all the more important in human beings. Humans are a privileged group of animals in the whole living world who are gifted with many advanced characteristics. These differentiate humans from other animals.
Among the special characteristics and abilities of humans that make him a human, the pioneering one is his reasoning and logical power. There are animals akin to humans that have it but their degree and amount are far less than human beings. The specially able human race is prone to more shocks than other animals. It is natural.
Humans are psychologically more susceptible and emotionally more attached to others. They have evolved as a more complex group, having an organised society and family. It was the need of time, and they have evolved it in their own way. It, nevertheless, didn’t come as a free gift. It was earned. They struggled and worked hard for it. It improved them, and now they are at the top, but does this struggle end their sorrow and pains? It does, but the scope of betterment is pushing him to do more. The struggle continues.
Prince Siddharth saw four instances when he was young. He saw a sick man, an ascetic, a sanctitude and a funeral procession. He was moved by these sightings and started thinking why was that the humans suffer. He left the luxuries of life and became a mendicant. He took hard penance, kept himself starved and meditated. Ultimately, he was enlightened and became Buddha, but what was his enlightenment?
Buddha propounded that there was sorrow, and it had a cause. Removing the cause automatically removes the sorrow and pain. It is a universal fact. Newton’s laws of motion explain it correctly. His first law of motion states that an object will stay at rest or keep moving at a constant speed until the outside force is applied. Newton’s third law states that every action has an opposite reaction in the same amount and size of the action.
The cause and its reaction or result is not a novice to Nature. It returns back in the same coin. The quantity and amount stay the same. Buddha had found out the key, but could he apply it to open the door of happiness for himself?
Buddha’s end was painful. Ailing with deadly digestive dysfunction, he was feeble and weak. He lay down under a tree as he was suffering from physical pain. The ailment took its toll, and he passed away. Buddha was moved to see an ailing person, a sanctitude and a funeral procession, years back. Despite that, he attained enlightenment, deciphered the cause of suffering and pain, he died the painful death of an ordinary man. Why? Let us see one more example from the old scriptures.
Lord Ram, the incarnation of God, had to roam in the jungle. His spouse was abducted. Restless and annoyed, He started searching for Sita Ji in the wild. Beseechingly asking every plant and animal, he roamed in the forest, searching for her. Facing all odds, he rescued Sita from the clutches of demon king Ravana after his annihilation. Lord Ram was God Almighty but in a human Avatar. He underwent the sufferings of a human being despite being an incarnation.
Nature’s laws are not changeable. No article in her Constitution gives power to amendments. Rules are strict. An organism has two choices, struggle or perish. Expecting an easy, smooth and pleasurable ride is not possible in the natural world. One has to face the music. It may sound harsh but as has been said earlier, it is a boon in disguise. A plain life without difficulties becomes monotonous and doesn’t allow the mind or body to work properly or accept challenges. It is akin to inertia. Vibrant life is active while inertia is lifeless. Being human beings, Buddha and Lord Ram had to obey the rules of Nature, and they did.
Lord Krishna always said about it. He told Arjuna about it and showed His “Virat Swaroop” (Huge Form). He showed Arjuna the cycle of birth and death, happiness and pain, with all organisms and faces. Obeying the law of Nature, the Lord Himself left the mundane world after a deadly arrow hit Him while resting under a tree. His kingdom, Dwarka, was submerged in the sea. All had to happen. The incidents that have been fixed have to happen.
The long narration was intended to give a glimpse of mandatory sorrow, pain and suffering in life. The Rollercoaster ride is thrilling and gives surprises, fear, joy and astonishment. The ride is enjoyable. Likewise, life is full of bumpy rides and eye-catching verdurous campestral. It is not practical to have an easy ride all the time. It is not good for survival and existence as well.
He received rejection, rebuttal and castigation. An unemployed youth he had accepted all curses, abuses and refusal as his mandatory daily dose. Whenever he felt hurt by anyone’s castigating remarks, he would cry silently. Moments later, wiping his tears, he would stand up to do what was needed to do. With meagre wages barely earned by tuition, he used to manage his affairs.
He had not eaten since last night nor did he get help from anyone. He waited for his wages, which was to be disbursed to him the next evening. He learnt the cost of living and the importance of hard work. The next evening, after he finished teaching his student, he was offered a cup of tea and biscuits. He accepted it with thanks as he needed it.
His difficult times taught him to stay calm and composed in any adversity. He learnt to be patient and never give up. Hard work has no substitute or replacement. He had been a simple person to the extent that, at times, he looked fool. The adversities helped him understand life and society. He is now aware that expectation is the most futile and heartbreaking thing. He emerged as a polite but more practical individual who cared for emotions and sentiments but was never swayed by them.
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