Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional

Once a gentleman came to a doctor complaining that there was something severely wrong with him. He was in pain and was very sad but all the medical tests came out normal. The doctor said, “There is nothing wrong with you. Go to the circus and watch the clown there. He will make you laugh.” The gentleman said, “Doctor, I am that clown.”

Happiness does not come by talent or skills that you develop. Unless you realise who you are, what the nature of consciousness is through introspection, happiness remains a far-fetched reality. The spirit of self enquiry in the true sense, which leads to meditation, is absolutely essential in this quest for happiness. The 6th century Indian philosopher Adi Shankaracharya has said that it is dispassion towards the ephemeral and connection with the eternal that brings true joy. The word for solitude in Sanskrit is ‘ekant’, meaning ‘the end of loneliness’. Loneliness cannot end by changing company, even if it is more sympathetic and understanding. It can only end when you discover your real nature.

Robin Williams, though he made millions of people laugh, could not end the deeply embedded loneliness. External pomp and show, wealth, admiration and adulation are not helpful in dealing with inner discontent. While alive, he made people laugh and in his death, he gave people a message to lift their eyes above the mundane towards something higher. You can bid goodbye to misery by connecting with different dimensions like solidified silence, a bolt of bliss and a glimpse of eternity, within you. You simply have to tap into it.

This is where knowing the secret of breath can really transform lives. Breathing techniques like ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ stabilise our life force and consequently the mind. The inner dimension unveiled by the practice of meditation deeply enriches us and its impact slowly spills over to all aspects of life. As prana rises in the body, one starts to feel a transformation as direct experience and not as a forced mental exercise. One starts becoming happier, creative and more in command of their mind and emotions. Another thing that can be really helpful in coming out of depression is developing an attitude of service.

Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. Having a broad perspective on life gives you the strength to move forward. With all its infinite possibilities, this life is a gift not just for oneself but for many others as well.

— The writer is the founder of Art of Living Foundation.