All of us have endured pain. We may have experienced it momentarily or for a long period. We may have felt it as a spasm, an ache or a deep convulsion. We may have perceived it in the body, the mind, the heart or throughout our being. Notwithstanding its level, type or frequency, we’d begged, prayed, even pleaded to the universe to stop the torture. Despairingly, we’d asked why it’s needed. Of course, after the torturous spell had run its course, we’d regained our composure and joie de vivre. At that time, we’d realized that the pain had benefited us in the end. However, we never managed to resolve that most fundamental of existential questions – why is pain necessary?

Pain is the unpleasant sensation of resistance produced by nature. It is its test to help us deepen our consciousness. It is akin to road friction – that vexing discord between a car and the concrete that enhances its strength, flexibility and agility. Taking another analogy – that of education – pain is an examination that we must pass to graduate. It’s our homework on the subject of conscious development. Given a choice, most people would avoid pain – just as they’d forego exams – even if it meant losing out on great benefits. Nonetheless, all beings have experienced it. Are we destined to face pain? Do we have to accept it?

Pain is both destined and selected. Every soul undertakes a journey from imbalance to Oneness. On this journey, the soul must travel from its displaced location in the universe to its origin. The journey takes place over the course of the soul’s life, but it may encompass multiple births. In each birth, the soul occupies a physical vessel or body. Between births, the soul undergoes numerous filtrations/examinations to achieve a higher level of consciousness. Upon the death of the vessel, the soul appraises its state of being. It then selects the next set of challenges to reach the higher evolutionary ground. The reborn soul inherits these boundary conditions of life as well as a fresh vessel to inhabit. Thereafter, it continues on this spiritual journey of birth and renewal; until eventually; it unites with the One. In the state of Oneness, there’s no need for a body. The soul can finally roam freely in its elemental essence. Every soul feels compelled to embark on the journey to Oneness because it’s restless and lost in its present avatar. Hence, the spirit of seeking is engrained in its nature. This is why every soul voluntarily chooses a set of challenges to advance in conscious development. Like a student who accepts boredom, stress and anxiety as necessary personal costs to graduate in a course, we too accept pain as our coursework in evolution. Despite the benefits of accepting pain, though, most of us strive to evade it.

Since pain is destined, any attempt to evade it will fail. However, we can choose not to accept it. This means cultivating a mindset that’s resistant to pain. Justifying to ourselves that pain is harmful to our well-being – we try to avoid it or to numb its hurtful effects. In those moments, we convince ourselves that our satisfaction level would increase considerably by avoiding pain. Nothing is further from the truth. By avoiding pain, we not only postpone its ultimate onset; but also delay our spiritual evolution.

Avoidance is the trap door to the pit of stagnation – an unseen swamp overrun with numerous (and deadlier) monsters of pain. Losing opportunities for filtration and self-improvement, we entrap ourselves in the Cycle of Karma – birth, action and consequences. Consequently, we are unable to achieve our evolutionary potential and taste the fruit of spiritual unity.

So, when you experience pain, tell yourself that it’s you who selected it as a growth challenge in the first place. If the pain is tantamount to suffering – excruciating and prolonged – it’s because you wanted to turbocharge your conscious development. The deeper the experience; the greater the benefit. This is why we must accept pain with open arms.