Written and published on 22 March 2015; revised

Dear Ones,

As it says in the Sikh holy book “Siri Guru Granth Sahib” (1) (to paraphrase): The reason there is suffering in the world is that it causes us to long for God. Thus, according to the Sikhs, suffering is like medicine to the disease of intoxication with worldly pleasure.

Lifetime after lifetime it is our own ego, our own seeking after pleasure, our own desire to avoid pain, that create our suffering… How then may we overcome suffering?

If when suffering is inflicted, we inflict injury in turn, then the suffering of the world increases. Our own suffering increases.

If when suffering is inflicted, we instead say to ourselves, ‘Ah! Here is a chance to feel compassion for the one who does not know compassion,’ then what happens? Then suffering in the world decreases. Our own suffering decreases.

To turn to compassion is to rise above ego, into that realm where grace pours down like a river of Light onto this dreaming world, this world that waking walks in the depths of sorrow, in the depths of separateness, in the depths of fear or pride, vengeance or despair.

To turn to compassion is to rise to our Highest Self, to that sacred space where our own hearts meet all that is. Where our own hearts meet the Divine in sweetest longing, in perfect understanding, in purest love.

To all my fellow travelers in this world of illusion …
May God’s grace and love illumine your every thought, every action, every dream.

In love, light and joy
This is Alice B. Clagett.
I Am of the Stars … and so are you!

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FOOTNOTE

(1) See Link: “Siri Guru Granth Sahib, page 469,” the section beginning “Shalok, First Mehl” … http://www.srigurugranth.org/0469.html ..

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). Attribution: By Alice B. Clagett.
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astral planes, dimensions, heart clearing, neutral mind, Sikhism, Asa di Vaar, Asa di Var, compassion, illusion, Maya, pleasure, suffering, Siri Guru Granth Sahib, desire, grace,