The narrative explores the transformative power of life’s hardships and difficult times, comparing them to iron ore in a blast furnace, where strength and resilience are forged through struggle. Historical figures like Buddha and Lord Ram exemplify the necessity of facing pain and adversity for personal growth. These experiences cultivate essential virtues like patience and emotional awareness, reinforcing that challenges are inherent in human existence. The text emphasises that such trials, though painful, are vital for development, shaping individuals into stronger and more practical beings. Ultimately, it teaches that a life devoid of difficulties leads to stagnation, while embracing struggles fosters growth and understanding.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Difficult times are essential for personal growth, shaping individuals like iron in a blast furnace.
- Historical figures like Buddha and Lord Ram illustrate the necessity of facing adversity for enlightenment and strength.
- Humans, being unique, evolve through hardships, developing patience, reasoning, and emotional awareness.
- Nature’s laws dictate that struggle is inevitable; without challenges, life becomes stagnant and monotonous.
- Ultimately, embracing difficult times fosters resilience and a deeper understanding of life.
Difficult phase
Hard times in 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 adapt 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 form of metallic iron.
A blast furnace can serve as an analogous example to illustrate the point. The temperature in a furnace 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.
Extracting good qualities through difficult phase
Iron ore undergoes harsh temperature treatment in a blast furnace. Likewise, the life of an organism also goes through difficult phases, which help in extracting good qualities. 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 them human, the pioneering one is their reasoning and logical power. There are animals akin to humans that have it, but their degree and amount are far less than those of human beings. The specially able human race is prone to more shocks than other animals. It is natural. (Psychology Today)
Humans are unique
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 the hour, and they have evolved it in their own way; nevertheless, it didn’t come as a free gift but 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 pain? It does, but the scope of betterment is pushing him to do more. The struggle continues.
Siddharth became Buddha
Prince Siddharth saw four instances when he was young. He saw a sick man, an ascetic, a sanctified man, and a funeral procession. Moved by these sightings, he began thinking about why 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 an outside force is applied. Newton’s third law states that every action has an opposite reaction.
The cause and its reaction or result is not a novelty to Nature. It returns 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?
Difficult phase: Last time of Buddha
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 sanctified person, and a funeral procession, years back. Despite that, he attained enlightenment, deciphered the cause of suffering and pain, and died the painful death of an ordinary man. Why? Let us see one more example from the old scriptures.
Lord Ram had to suffer.
Lord Ram, the incarnation of God, had to face difficult phase. He roamed in the jungle, His spouse was abducted. Restless and annoyed, He started searching for Sita Ji in the wild. Beseeching every plant and animal, he roamed in the forest, searching for her. Facing all odds, he rescued Sita from the clutches of the 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 and its laws
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 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.
Huge form of Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna always spoke 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 submerged in the sea. All had to happen.
Rollercoaster ride
The long narration 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, verdant, campestral. It is not practical to have an easy ride all the time. It is not good for survival and existence as well.
Share of difficult times
Like other human beings, he received rejection, rebuttal and castigation. An unemployed youth, he had accepted all curses, abuses and refusals 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 and do the required. 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. His wages were to be disbursed the next evening; till then, staying hungry was the option. The difficult time taught him the cost of living and the importance of hard work. The next evening, after he finished teaching his students, he was offered a cup of tea and biscuits. He accepted it with thanks as he needed it.
Hard work has no substitute.
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 foolish. The adversities helped him understand life and society. Hardships and difficult times made him 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.
Further reads:
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
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