Why go through Spiritual Stress?

[air]

We may wonder and question: Why should we go through all this spiritual stress? What is the necessity to break our head to find out who we are, where we have come from and what is God?

Quite a valid question, isn’t it? We feel that we are wasting our time in life on matters that will hardly have any relevance. But on further introspection the question that arises is, “Are these questions relevant or not?” Let us take one step back - what is the whole world seeking? The whole world seeks happiness. People chase achievements to get pleasure from money, fame, success. It gives them happiness, but money can’t buy happiness because money can only provide pleasures. Moreover, there are disappointments, after which happiness comes to an end. Some are lucky to hit the second peak. They leave achievement and go towards fulfillment, which is fueled by contentment, peace, joy, love, faith, hope, universal connection. They too are seeking happiness. But ask somebody who has climbed the achievement peak, and the fulfillment peak whether they have experienced everlasting joy? There may be peace and there may be pleasure, but one thing that is still missing is purpose.

So, what can give one purpose? The only way I believe to find purpose in life and everlasting joy is probably to search for answers for the questions. In that case, the question that arises is, “Is spiritual quest truly meaningful or is it just a waste of time? What will be the final outcome of this spiritual quest?” If the spiritual quest can truly give us everlasting joy, liberation and the nirvana, then is it not worth pursuing and finding answers to the questions that the world ignores? There may be so many questions that the majority of humanity doesn’t even consider worth asking, but if this can give us the ultimate joy, then think about it - isn’t it worth it?

AiR

[sparklekaz]

Hi Air,

A lovely post Air. You express thoughts I've thought about a lot. And I'm guessing also many of the people who will read it. For me personally fulfillment and purpose are closely entwined. When I am living my life purposefully, and for me that has always been through being of service to others, I feel fulfilled and content.

I also have come to realize that the times in which I feel stuck, frustrated and unhappy, is when I have come away from doing that. I do understand the difference between living a life for others, to living a life of service. There is a danger when living life for others, we can sacrifice our own needs. To the detriment of our own mental and physical health. But being of service, is what I feel I am here for. And it is through that interaction with others in all the many different ways, that has helped me to continue to grow and evolve spiritually. Every day is a learning day. Every day brings something that makes me question and think.

I've always felt that growth is our purpose. Well, it is for me, I can't speak for others.

Thank you for sharing.

Love and light
Kaz

[krsnaraja]

True Happiness is when you have the answers to all your spiritual questions leaving you no doubt they are all correct.

[gruntal]

At any one point in time and space we are only aware of limited possibilities. What we think of as the ultimate is pushed back by new awareness. If we advance to the state of "cosmic consciousness" we supposedly experience everything as one but I have been told there are still boundaries and mysteries.