Every aspect of our life is connected to spiritual learning. We learn about life through experiencing life, not just thinking about it. It’s very easy for the spiritual practitioner to get so focused on the spiritual journey, that they forget to experience life, too, which is the greatest teacher. Problems are our greatest teacher.

I was reading one of my old blogs from my journey in Iraq and there I was, suffocating myself in spiritual learning and reading too much, because I wanted to find truth so bad, despite the war outside my window. During my hard times, I would seclude myself to my room, put on my headphones and listen to Enya, eat some mac and cheese, and write in my journal. The WEIRD thing about it all, was that although I wanted to write from a place of joy and bliss and my deepest thoughts, I was writing from sorrow, pain and loneliness and not feeling understood. I had a few rough patches like this for weeks at a time during the deployment. I thought I was growing spiritually, you know focusing on spiritual stuff and being alone, but I didn’t think my happiness was slipping away from me either. Sometimes spirituality doesn’t lead to happiness. It leads to darkness.

In order to reach and realize your soul, you will need to fight the clouds of inner darkness. When you make the decision to be spiritual, TRULY spiritual, you invite yourself to face the darkness. It’s easier said then done. The truth from my personal life is, 90% of the time has been an experience of challenges and problems. And the 10% of the time has been walking on clouds, talking to flowers and butterflies, and awesome meditations.

My Life Problems and Spirituality Formula

90% of pain/suffering + 10% of life is peachy = 100% spirituality

Why?

I’d rather accept, suffer and break through my karma and put lots efforts, than have 90% of awesomeness and 10% of suffering. The reason is, you get stronger when you suffer. You get courage, when you feel down. You gain confidence, when you are weak. If life was all success, life would be B-O-R-I-N-G. Humans thrive on conflict and drama. Spirituality requires conflict and drama, because you can’t learn if the opposite is not there. Through resistance we grow. Where there are challenges, happiness is there.

A more concrete example are those who play sports professionally: They train so hard, require discipline, they master the mindset, they push themselves to the limits. They cry, they hurt, they get mad at themselves. Ballet dancers break their foot tissues, football players break their knees and shoulders, basketball players sprain their ankles, ice skaters fall on their butt. YET, when it is time for their 2 minutes of glory, they LOVE it, they are HAPPY, they are ELATED. Then, after their spotlight is over, they are back to training the next day, just to reach that next special moment, which could be 8 months from their last competition. Like I said, 90% hardcore not so fun stuff and 10% glory. Spirituality is 90% putting efforts, 10% is enjoying it. Like my Grandma always taught me, too: “Work, before pleasure.”

Spiritual Stories Formula of the Masters

If you listen to stories and parables from the spiritual masters of the past and present, they go like this: “A person was going through something negative, something clicked inside of them either because of an incident or inspiration, and then they positively changed.” The End. The story of the spiritual aspirant is NOT: “A person has had a perfect life, becomes spiritual, and they are happy / perfect forever.” The End.

Spirituality and Dualism

Without violence, learning to practice nonviolence is not possible. Without conflict, peace cannot exist. We live in a dualistic world. We need pain, suffering, and tests in order to grow spiritually. That is why Acharya Shree Yogeesh, my spiritual master says, “Problems make you stronger.” Check out his YouTube Video here on that topic, it’s very inspiring.

Here are some ways you might have suffered, as I have experienced the following, too:

• loneliness
• doubt
• fear
• sadness
• misunderstood
• criticism from self / others
• lack of love for self / others
• hate / anger / revenge

But because of these above “suffering things”, you and I can learn for our spiritual path:

• how to be alone, not lonely
• how to trust
• how to be fearless
• how to be happy
• how to be self-reliant
• how to be grateful and be proud of yourself
• how to love unconditionally
• how to be compassionate

The problems and challenges in life will never disappear, only our perception changes, our strength grows, and our fortitude shines.

Spirituality is not a path of perfection, it is a path of awareness. It is a path of strength during the challenges of life. It is a path of walking on the tips of swords in each and every moment. It is a path of positive perceptions despite the craziness in the world. But it is because of this, that makes YOU different from the rest of the world, ya know?

You are the Hope for the World

Be the spiritual truth seeker and welcome the challenge.
Be the warrior against the darkness, and light the way for others.
Be the person that leads the world to truth, by experiencing the hard and deceiving times of life, this way you can help others not fall into the traps you fell into.

Take the challenges that life gives you. Face it. Welcome it.

Is it your dark time right now? Go through it with a smile. Remember, “This too shall pass.” :)

Much love,
Siddhali Shree