janaki
QUESTION #86: I am doing vigorous Tapas and meditation for the last five years. With all that, my troubles and difficulties are multiplying. I have lost my job. I am starving now. What shall I do? Is this the Grace of the Lord? How can I continue my Sadhana when I have nothing to eat?
ANSWER (Swami Sivananda): It is said that the Lord gives food even to the frog that lives between the strata of rocks. Why has He failed in your case alone? This is a great wonder! Has He failed in His duty? This cannot be. He is all-merciful, all benevolent! Is it because He wants to develop in you the constructive qualities-- courage, presence of mind, endurance, strong will, fortitude, more mercy and love-- and make His instrument more fit for His Divine Lila? Yes, this must be the case.
The struggling and sincere aspirant also gets more troubles and difficulties, because he has to march quickly on the path to reach the portals of the Kingdom of Supreme Peace and Unalloyed Bliss. Princess Mira renounced the pomp and glory of the Palace and walked in the burning sands of Rajputana. She starved on her way to Brindavan. She slept on the ground. She lived on alms. The Pandavas underwent countless sufferings even when Lord Krishna was at their back. Draupadi was placed in a very bad plight even though she had Bhima, Arjuna and Dharmaputra to fight for her. Our sufferings are nothing, when compared to the persecutions underwent by the five Pandavas, Sri Rama and Mira. Look at the sufferings of Raja Harischandra and his wife! He had to serve in the cremation ground and do the work of a Chandala to keep up truthfulness. It is suffering that develops the will. It is suffering alone that moulds a man on the spiritual path. Be not troubled. Feel Lord Siva's grace and mercy at every step. All difficulties will melt away like mist before the sun. Have perfect unswerving faith in His grace.