Note: This discussion is only for people who believe in GOD and Mukthi and self realization etc.
This is one of the most difficult questions in all of theology/religion.If you google with this sentence you will find a number of answers in the view of Christianity and Judaism.
Often we read stories of saints who suffered a lot before attaining salvation. Then we start wondering why?
What is the cause? We see the effect and we try to find the cause.
There are many questions in life which we ask and try to find an answer. Humanity has made tremendous progress because of such inquisitiveness. What is called renaissance. Science has provided many answers. But even Science has not been able to provide all the answers.
For example. Why do we Yawn? It may come a surprise to you that there is no answer. There are theories. But none of them have been found wholly satisfactory.
In religion/theology it is only theories.
Coming back to our original question.
The stock answer is that GOD was testing him. But that answer does not satisfy many. The relationship between GOD and his devotee is very intimate. Like between Mother and Son or similar relationship. In such relationships one does not test the other. In fact when either a mother/father starts testing her/his children or a husband/wife starts testing the wife/husband the results are often unpredictable and unsatisfactory. It is generally accepted that LOVE should never be put to test.
So the theory that GOD tests the devotee by putting him to hardship is not a satisfactory one. GOD loves his Devotee and will never put him to hardships.
If it so what is the cause of the hardships?
The Karma theory of Hinduism explains why.
1. The results of Karma has to be reaped by all. There is no escape from it.
2. Prarabdha is that portion of the part of Karma which is responsible for the present body. It is ripe for reaping. It cannot be avoided or changed. It is only exhausted by being experienced. You pay your past debts. This is a term which was used often by our elders. My Prarabdham they would say.
Normally Prarabdha karma is accumulated over several births and also felt over several births.
This Pradhabtha Karma theory does provide an explanation for Bad things happening to Good people. It happens becaue of Prarabtha Karma which is only exhausted by being experienced. You pay your past debts.
In the case Devotees who seek salvation, they have to burn away all the accumulated Prarabdha karmas accumulated over several births in this Birth. So the effects are much more severe and they have to undergo more hardships than the general people.
That bring me to the second point.
The Cost of being really Spiritual.
I am not talking about table top Philosophers who talk about Spirituality. But about real seekers who seek Mukthi/self realization/Salvation etc. They do this in various ways. There are many paths to the Ultimate Reality. All the paths are valid.
Spirituality is the anti-thesis of materialism. A person who is seeking salvation does not bother about material values like money, power, fame etc. But it does not come automatically to every one. For most people it comes only gradually. Attachments fall off and detachment becomes a way of life. Many times it takes a number of births before this can be achieved.
As I said earlier, the people who seek salvation will undergo much more hardships than the average man because they have to fulfill the effects of all the accumulated Prarabta karma.
Then how does the world look at this people. The moment you leave materialism, you become a non-conformist. One does not conform to the values of the society because he does not chase money, power and fame.
The society calls them eccentric, fools or crazy/mad depending upon on how you are viewed otherwise.
In Hinduism a Sannyasi is one who has given up his earlier birth. Sannyasa rites include Athma Pindam. Sannyasa is a step where one severe his relationship with family, friends and society.
But no one in the Society likes this. No wife would like her husband to become a sannyasi. No father/mother would like their children to become Sannyasis. Often they are accused of not fulfilling their duties as a a son/husband. This is part and parcel of a sannyasi's life. If one waits to fulfill all his duties before taking sannyasa, he would never do it. Of course some people who could not do it at all due to the above reasons take sannyasa at the time of Death. But then they may have to take another Birth before attaining salvation.
I am posting this because people should realize that it is easy to talk and write about Spirituality. But it is very difficult to practice. The cost is very high. You would be called mad, fool and abused for not fulfilling the expectations of your family and society in general. And you will be put to many hardships.
My Guru took quite some time before initiating me. He also told me that I have to face hardships. Many Gurus may not tell this fact.
But then what one is aiming is the Ultimate Reality. The hardships, the abuses and infamy etc. are worth it. That is the cost one has to pay for seeking the Ultimate.
This is one of the most difficult questions in all of theology/religion.If you google with this sentence you will find a number of answers in the view of Christianity and Judaism.
Often we read stories of saints who suffered a lot before attaining salvation. Then we start wondering why?
What is the cause? We see the effect and we try to find the cause.
There are many questions in life which we ask and try to find an answer. Humanity has made tremendous progress because of such inquisitiveness. What is called renaissance. Science has provided many answers. But even Science has not been able to provide all the answers.
For example. Why do we Yawn? It may come a surprise to you that there is no answer. There are theories. But none of them have been found wholly satisfactory.
In religion/theology it is only theories.
Coming back to our original question.
The stock answer is that GOD was testing him. But that answer does not satisfy many. The relationship between GOD and his devotee is very intimate. Like between Mother and Son or similar relationship. In such relationships one does not test the other. In fact when either a mother/father starts testing her/his children or a husband/wife starts testing the wife/husband the results are often unpredictable and unsatisfactory. It is generally accepted that LOVE should never be put to test.
So the theory that GOD tests the devotee by putting him to hardship is not a satisfactory one. GOD loves his Devotee and will never put him to hardships.
If it so what is the cause of the hardships?
The Karma theory of Hinduism explains why.
1. The results of Karma has to be reaped by all. There is no escape from it.
2. Prarabdha is that portion of the part of Karma which is responsible for the present body. It is ripe for reaping. It cannot be avoided or changed. It is only exhausted by being experienced. You pay your past debts. This is a term which was used often by our elders. My Prarabdham they would say.
Normally Prarabdha karma is accumulated over several births and also felt over several births.
This Pradhabtha Karma theory does provide an explanation for Bad things happening to Good people. It happens becaue of Prarabtha Karma which is only exhausted by being experienced. You pay your past debts.
In the case Devotees who seek salvation, they have to burn away all the accumulated Prarabdha karmas accumulated over several births in this Birth. So the effects are much more severe and they have to undergo more hardships than the general people.
That bring me to the second point.
The Cost of being really Spiritual.
I am not talking about table top Philosophers who talk about Spirituality. But about real seekers who seek Mukthi/self realization/Salvation etc. They do this in various ways. There are many paths to the Ultimate Reality. All the paths are valid.
Spirituality is the anti-thesis of materialism. A person who is seeking salvation does not bother about material values like money, power, fame etc. But it does not come automatically to every one. For most people it comes only gradually. Attachments fall off and detachment becomes a way of life. Many times it takes a number of births before this can be achieved.
As I said earlier, the people who seek salvation will undergo much more hardships than the average man because they have to fulfill the effects of all the accumulated Prarabta karma.
Then how does the world look at this people. The moment you leave materialism, you become a non-conformist. One does not conform to the values of the society because he does not chase money, power and fame.
The society calls them eccentric, fools or crazy/mad depending upon on how you are viewed otherwise.
In Hinduism a Sannyasi is one who has given up his earlier birth. Sannyasa rites include Athma Pindam. Sannyasa is a step where one severe his relationship with family, friends and society.
But no one in the Society likes this. No wife would like her husband to become a sannyasi. No father/mother would like their children to become Sannyasis. Often they are accused of not fulfilling their duties as a a son/husband. This is part and parcel of a sannyasi's life. If one waits to fulfill all his duties before taking sannyasa, he would never do it. Of course some people who could not do it at all due to the above reasons take sannyasa at the time of Death. But then they may have to take another Birth before attaining salvation.
I am posting this because people should realize that it is easy to talk and write about Spirituality. But it is very difficult to practice. The cost is very high. You would be called mad, fool and abused for not fulfilling the expectations of your family and society in general. And you will be put to many hardships.
My Guru took quite some time before initiating me. He also told me that I have to face hardships. Many Gurus may not tell this fact.
But then what one is aiming is the Ultimate Reality. The hardships, the abuses and infamy etc. are worth it. That is the cost one has to pay for seeking the Ultimate.
In fact my view of the Smartha tradition may not be accepted by many here. I remember writing about it long time back. 
