BOREDOM AND SUFFERING

The other day, I came across this quotation. 
The pendulum oscillates between these two terms: Suffering that opens a window on the real and is the main condition
of the artistic experience, and Boredom ... that must be considered as the most tolerable because the most durable 
of human evils....... Samuel Beckett

Suffering can be associated with agony, torment, torture pain or distress. Boredom implies dullness, doldrums,
weariness or ennui.
Who is to blame for boredom?  Today, there is a wealth of information explosion, range of distractions promoted by
the audio visual media, yet an adolescent of today is often bored with life and keeps grumbling. Suicides by educated
youth are on the rise.  Is there a reason? Yes! Purposeless, aimless, self-centred living (also called Tamasic
existence), without a goal in sight.  For yet another, despite achieving high accolades, there is an emptiness that
stares. Possessiveness is yet another cause. We associate ourselves with certain objects, persons and situations.
When we have to let go of these, then Suffering or Boredom begins to show its ugly face.

Physical Suffering is caused by diseases and ailments.  But, it can be endured by controlling the mind largely. 
Mental Suffering occurs when the mind is not balanced, and is egoistic. 

For the last two years of his life the Maharshi suffered from cancer and experienced great physical pain, but even
towards the end he maintained the same tranquil poise and self same radiant smile. When he was suffering from cancer
in the arm a disciple ran away crying because he could not bear to see his master in pain. Ramana only smiled and 
spoke to a disciple nearby. He thinks I am suffering agonies! My body is suffering but I am not suffering. When will
he realise that I am not this body?
When Sri Ramakrishna Paramahams was nearing fifty, he developed cancer of the throat and as it got worse, his 
disciples had to force him to eat, though he was mostly unaware of the body in his higher state. When his condition
worsened, his disciples pressed him to ask the Mother to cure him. But he was content with his state saying:
\"Let the body and its pain take care of one another.
Thou, my mind, be always in bliss.\"


He resisted them at first but later thought that for their sake he would ask her for healing. Ramakrishna recounts:
\"I said to Her, 'I cannot eat anything for this pain. Please so arrange that I may eat a little'. She showed me a
vision of ALL and said, 'Why, you are already eating through so many mouths, why be concerned with this one!'. I was
ashamed and could not utter another word.\"

A pendulum that is displaced from its resting equilibrium position, swings to and fro till it comes back to the
equilibrium position, no boredom or suffering, complete rest. 

To conclude,

Bored psyche
seeks out newer fare
nothing on earth satiates.

Author: Hema Ravi

Chennai