Question: “God does not exist. If god exists why would he allow so much evil and suffering. One may say that we suffer because of the results of our past karma, why would god make a system like this? Why not punish immediately for transgressions? Why punish thousands of years later when an individual is effectively a different person. Why allow evil to continue existing? Some say free will is the reason, but what benefit do we obtain from having the free will to commit evil? Why wouldn’t god make us perfect from the get go?”

Answer: Friend,

Your feelings have been echoed by many over millennium and your sentiments are valid and completely understandable.

The “answer” to the “why” question is the most difficult and least satisfactory response anyone can give. Some sages including Paramhansa Yogananda would, in effect, say things like “when you know God, then you can ask Him.” Or, “Save a few questions for when you become enlightened.” Or, “How can we, puny man, pretend to know that God doesn’t exist or what the fundamental purpose of creation is?”

And, truthfully, those too are valid responses. Our teacher and founder, Swami Kriyananda, pointed out the obvious: most people are perfectly content, indeed eager, to enjoy this world and ignore the existence of God. That self-indulgence brings suffering is also so obvious that it is surprising so many people ignore the down side (including the transitory nature) of pleasure, money, status, fame and beauty.

Keep in mind, too, that your question has spurred the greatest thinkers of all time to ponder: and I’m suppose to answer this deep question in an email!!!!!! đŸ˜

You already know that the greatest saints of East and West say we should love God; serve God; see God in all people, all nature. Do you really need more than that? You have the right, indeed, the soul-obligation, to ask these questions, but ……. 

Christian Bible says man rebelled against God. Hindu scriptures say God purposely made maya difficult to unmask the One behind all appearances. And you ask: why? Why indeed! Some say this creation is God’s dream; a mere play. Philosophers and scientists contemplate multi-verses; illusion of time and space.

Don’t you see that the creation is vast, great and incredibly complex?

As your eyes need contrast in order to function, we need duality, good and evil, in order to know the difference. If life were all wonderful, how would we know it? Does a fish know he’s in water? Could a playwright write a play or a novelist a novel that had no conflict in it but would be popular among viewers and readers?

Suffering acts as a prod to wake up from this dream which is not our dream (we dream at night, of course but when dreaming it is very real until we wake up!). Yet love and the pursuit of happiness makes “the world (of humans) go ’round.” Does this not arouse your suspicion? I think it obviously does.

We want to be happy. Buddha sought to solve the riddle of suffering: illness, old age and death. He solved by non-attachment; transcendence; the God’s eye view of good and evil each having its place. And yet, passivity and indifference to the suffering of others is only ego-indulgence, laziness. Krishna in the Gita says that the yogi feels the pangs and sorrows of all men.

Thus, he goes on to say, we should live (not unlike joyful Stoics) in this world fulfilling our God-given and karma-driven duties but without attachment and with a commitment of enthusiasm and joy for the privilege of life and the opportunity to strive towards moksha (soul-freedom). 

This takes energy and commitment and the grace of a God-realized soul to guide us. This is perhaps not the “answer” you want to hear. Sometimes the truth is both simple and challenging.

I can only leave you here at this point. Rather than think about life, it is better to commit to right action. (One of the great themes of the Bhagavad Gita–btw I’ll do a four week class on the Gita beginning Jan 6)

Bless you my pondering friend,

HrimanÂ