This discourse gives us a perspective on life through answers to two questions.

Through the first question, Om Swami gives his perspective on soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for their country, and how they should be addressed with immense respect for their sacrifice. Soldiers join the army, fully knowing that maybe at some point they will have to go to the battlefield and may have to sacrifice their lives for their country and people. This sacrifice is not to be taken lightly.

The second question - Is God is good if he subjects so many people to a life of suffering? Om Swami, answers this question beautifully by giving a deeply insightful analogy of sesame seeds in a jar that are being shaken. There will be a few seeds that get damaged, but if each seed is mindful and remembers that it is not alone and that in reality, it is not possible for its true essence to get destroyed, then there will be no sorrow. But when it forgets and lives in ignorance, that is the cause of sorrow. Thinking of the individual self causes sorrow, god does not work on any one person or individual. Instead, a person has to work on themselves to awaken the god inside.

Pearls of Wisdom from this talk:

1. Thinking of the individual self causes suffering

2. Live the way God wants you to live

Intro and outro animation: Sushree Svadha Om

Piano music: Adi Sharma

If you enjoyed this video and would like to explore the topic further, here's a blog post by Om Swami:

"At any rate, let’s be grateful, for gratitude is the antidote to suffering. It keeps you grounded, makes you strong even in the good times. Suffering leaves in the face of gratitude; they can’t coexist. The pain may still be there, but the balm of gratitude gradually heals the wounds of misery."

https://os.me/is-suffering-necessary/

BREATHE / SMILE / LET GO

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