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Word Gems 

exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity

 

The Purpose of Evil

Part I

 

 

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Is Evil necessary? Could I not have learned required lessons by living in a less severe world? 

At present I have no answers which satisfy completely. But I am consoled somewhat as I learn of the wonders of the afterlife. If the experiences here are necessary to enjoy life there, it will be worth it after all.

The story of The Little Soul comes to mind:

 

Once upon no time there was a Little Soul who said to God, "I know who I am!"
 
And God said, "That's wonderful! Who are you?" 
 
And the Little Soul shouted, "I am the Light!" God smiled a big smile. "That's right!" ... "You are the Light" ...
 
But soon, knowing who it was, was not enough. The Little Soul felt stirrings inside, and now wanted to be who it was.
 
"I want to see what that feels like! [to be the Light]" cried the Little Soul ...

The Little Soul could not truly know the Light without also experiencing the Darkness. He could not really know Hot without feeling the Cold; and so on.

It seems to me that we, in our immaturity, cannot truly know Love and Goodness without first experiencing Evil. I think the allegorical account of Adam and Eve in the Garden with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is meant to offer this lesson. We notice that it's not just "the tree of good and evil" but "the knowledge of good and evil."

 

Silver Birch: "Life is always a polarity. If there were no darkness there would be no light. If there were no trouble there could never be any peace. If the sun always shone you would not appreciate it. You have to learn sometimes through conditions that seem a nuisance. One day you will look back and say, "We learned our best lessons not when the sun was shining, but when the storm was at its greatest, when the thunder roared, the lightning flashed, the clouds obscured the sun and all seemed dark and hopeless". It is only when the soul is in adversity that some of its greatest possibilities can be realized… If you knock on a door and it does not open, do not push. If you push the door gently and it opens, that is for you."

 

We are required to make choices in this world; inevitably, some of them will be hurtful ones - but, in the process we shall acquire a depth of understanding and wisdom, which, we trust, will allow us to live life fully in all coming levels of existence and dimensions.

Maybe our last experience as we leave this world will become a metaphor of our mission here: The way to the Light is through a Dark tunnel.

Emerson: "Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor. As the Sandwich Islander believes that the strength and valor of the enemy he kills passes into himself, so we gain the strength of the temptation we resist."
 
Eckhart Tolle: "Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?" This was written 2000 years ago by Marcus Aurelius, one of those exceedingly rare humans who possessed worldly power as well as wisdom. It seems that most people need to experience a great deal of suffering before they will relinquish resistance and accept - before they will forgive. As soon as they do, one of the greatest miracles happens: the awakening of Being-consciousness through what appears as evil, the transmutation of suffering into inner peace. The ultimate effect of all the evil and suffering in the world is that it will force humans into realizing who they are beyond name and form. Thus, what we perceive as evil from our limited perspective is actually part of the higher good that has no opposite. This, however, does not become true for you except through forgiveness. Until that happens, evil has not been redeemed and therefore remains evil."
 
Tom Brown, Jr: "Evil can be a teacher, if you look at the wisdom of its negative power."

There is a Kabbalistic tradition such that Satan is viewed as a loyal son of God. I think this is an excellent allegorical explanation of apparent Evil as but a form of blessing from God, that which will yet develop and unfold our souls to become fully mature sons and daughters of the Divine.

 

 

Flashes Of Light From Spirit-Land (1872), by J. H. Conant, channeled information: 

Do you suppose you would appreciate the joys of what you call heaven, the heaven of the spirit-world, if you had always passed through a sort of an easy, free life here? Why, no... They who have been crushed under the wheels of adversity are the souls who know how to enjoy heaven. Why, I am only sorry I did not have more adversity when here. I am only sorry I did not drink deeper of the cup of bitterness, because if I had I should have a keener relish for the joys of heaven. My relish is very keen now, but it would have been enhanced a hundred fold if I had only suffered more when here. That is why the returning spirits always tell you that though they suffered much here, they cannot afford to part with the remembrance of it - they are very glad to have passed through it... What would you know about good, fine, pleasant weather, if there were no storms? You would weary of it very soon. What would you know about appreciating the sunshine, if there were no clouds that passed over the sun's face? Why, I think the [mythical] devil is one of our very best friends, and instead of putting horns and hoofs to him, we ought to array him in garments of light, and call him what God calls him - very good!

 

 

 

 

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