Why Has God Created a World in Which There Is Suffering? part7
Wed, 01/30/2008 - 13:50 — admin
VIDYANANDA: Yes. He has kindly kept us from an existence devoid not only of knowledge and love for Him, but of any opportunity of ever achieving it. At this point, it should be mentioned that although this world is a place of both pleasure and pain, God is not directly responsible for the suffering of the living entities. Rather, as soon as a living entity begins to act in the pursuit of his own pleasure instead of in service to God, he comes within the jurisdiction of karma, i.e., he becomes accountable for his actions. Just as a criminal is responsible for his wrong doings and the consequences which result from them, and not the government or police force, similarly, the individual soul is solely accountable for his self-motivated activities.
The master plan behind the universe is thus truly amazing. This world has been so expertly designed that no matter how hard one tries, he cannot really become comfortable here. What to speak of building the perfect kingdom, the average person cannot even sit, lie, or stand in one position for a few minutes without having to change his posture in an effort to avoid muscle fatigue, relieve stress, or attempt to get more comfortable. So expert is the design of the material creation that we are always being reminded that we are not in “heaven.” Gradually, an individual will get the hint and begin to question, “Why am I suffering?” “Where is perfect happiness?” and so on. By God’s grace, when a person begins to sincerely ask such questions, he will be blessed with the answers and will come to understand that his natural function is not being master, but servant-that his constitutional position is servant of God, not enjoyer of the world.
Often people try so hard to find happiness through sense pleasure that they may attempt to gratify several or all of their senses at the same time. For example, you may simultaneously be watching TV, listening to the radio, munching potato chips, sipping beer, and smoking a cigarette. Perhaps you may have your arm around the shoulders of your girlfriend or boyfriend. You may also have a magazine at your side, which you look at during commercials. You try to fill up every sense; yet still you’re not satisfied; still you want something more.MICHAEL: By designing the world in the manner in which it is designed, then, God has avoided eternally condemning the living entities to a hellish existence?
Science of Identity Foundation – Siddhaswarupananda
VIDYANANDA: Yes. He has kindly kept us from an existence devoid not only of knowledge and love for Him, but of any opportunity of ever achieving it. At this point, it should be mentioned that although this world is a place of both pleasure and pain, God is not directly responsible for the suffering of the living entities. Rather, as soon as a living entity begins to act in the pursuit of his own pleasure instead of in service to God, he comes within the jurisdiction of karma, i.e., he becomes accountable for his actions. Just as a criminal is responsible for his wrong doings and the consequences which result from them, and not the government or police force, similarly, the individual soul is solely accountable for his self-motivated activities.
The master plan behind the universe is thus truly amazing. This world has been so expertly designed that no matter how hard one tries, he cannot really become comfortable here. What to speak of building the perfect kingdom, the average person cannot even sit, lie, or stand in one position for a few minutes without having to change his posture in an effort to avoid muscle fatigue, relieve stress, or attempt to get more comfortable. So expert is the design of the material creation that we are always being reminded that we are not in “heaven.” Gradually, an individual will get the hint and begin to question, “Why am I suffering?” “Where is perfect happiness?” and so on. By God’s grace, when a person begins to sincerely ask such questions, he will be blessed with the answers and will come to understand that his natural function is not being master, but servant-that his constitutional position is servant of God, not enjoyer of the world.
“VIDYANANDA and MICHAEL, the principal characters in the dialogue, are entirely fictitious and not connected to any past or present persons.”