There’s a misguided critique I’ve often heard of great spiritual teachers. “If they were so evolved, why did they have a stroke or get cancer? Why’d she lose her eyesight? Or have migraines?”––as was the case with Krishnamurti, who used to holler from the pain of his headaches.

Some enlightened masters will intentionally take on karma for others. It’s not unheard of for deep practitioners, initiates or monks to spend part of their lives enduring and transmuting the suffering of those around them, while going about their daily lives.

There’s the most beautiful account of a devotee of Paramhansa Yogananda’s observing that Yogananda was in extreme physical pain. He knew that this was the result of the guru consciously taking on the suffering of his disciples.

Seeing that his guru was in such discomfort the devotee lamented to Yogananda, “Oh Master, must you endure such pain?!” Yogananda lovingly shushed him, telling the devotee to never question such things. (I am paraphrasing here,) “It is because of this suffering that I know the great Light of The Divine Mother.”

…

It’s because of our suffering that we meet OUR DIVINITY.

The challenge uncorks our power.
Beneath the anxiety is the calm.
Behind the fear is the courage.
All the comfort we crave… is underneath the pain.

Can you find some relief in this?

I’m not suggesting that we take on anyone else’s suffering. But… What if… we got very very warm and friendly with our own agonies?

This is entirely possible.

If the challenges ignite our power, then wouldn’t it be logical that we would lean into it? We’d put down our resistance and any woe is me story and we’d stay close to the pain (no need to numb, run or rationalize.) We’d take some delight in knowing that we’re being expanded. We would actually revel in how the suffering is re-making us.

The reframe is this: When life levels us and pity is tempting, we might say, I’m getting to know my own Light.

This is entirely possible.

With Love,