Proper Suffering is the Highest Action

5/16/18

I was recently asked a question, as to the psychospiritual  value of different kinds of kindness relative to each other. I thought about this and now provide my personal answer.

One single, tiny, unselfish physical act for the benefit of another person is worth more than all the friendly and great words of sympathy or hope. Sympathetic and kindly words are of much great usefulness than silent thoughts towards a person in distress. Clearly, this series of usefulness is predicated on the efforts the author of the action decides to apply. People in distress are not ignorant.

However, one simple act of self-sacrifice means so much more to a suffering person, for intentional self-sacrifice requires not only a higher understanding of the situation of the other, but a heart that knows that our neighbor is no less important than ourselves. For self-sacrifice for another always involves voluntary suffering for the author. Such suffering is much different that the suffering caused by natural catastrophes and bad-luck. The intentional assumption of the suffering of another, or of the world at whole, is what I call ‘suffering necessary for all true seekers of Light, Life, and Love.’

Suffering for another opens our minds to new possibilities for aid, an improved understanding of the difficulty of human life, a stronger bond between persons, and opens a wider channel to the God of your heart and realization so to purify and improve us. Such suffering helps us learn to love others as they are connected to us on a deeper level.

The parable of Christ being crucified and dying on the cross is the best example I know to show that suffering and self-sacrifice is the narrow road, the Way, ending at the gates of the Kingdom within.

Michael