Sacred Heart #8

“You thank God for the good things that come to you, but you don’t thank him for the things that seem to be bad; that is where you go wrong.“

Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950) was an Indian sage and advocate of Advaita. He approved of a number of practices but recommended self-inquiry and devotion.

Don’t quickly agree or disagree with this statement; instead, sit with it a while and explore its many facets. It is easy to say we should be grateful to God/All That Is for our life, if nothing else. But should we be grateful for the cancer diagnosis, the death of a child, for genocide? Should we first, perhaps, explore our definition of good or bad?

Oftentimes, bad is what hurts, and good is what makes us feel happy. But that is very subjective and limited, is it not? Something bad can lead, in the long run, to something quite wonderful, something we could not imagine or expect. How many charities and service organizations who have helped millions have had their origin in tragic events?

We are not wise enough to confidently ascribe good or bad labels because we can not see the bigger picture, the underlying purpose of events. It is our mind that loves labels and loves to admire or condemn. If we suspend judgement and deal only with what is, life will naturally seek harmony and balance.

Can we believe that God, our Self, is always leading us back to the Source by means we may not understand?

This is just one of many interpretations to ponder about this powerful statement.