Suppose someone is trapped in a dark maze-like dungeon. After wandering for a long time, they finally find an opening. But as they near the light, its brightness feels uncomfortable. If they deem the discomfort unbearable and turn back to the dark dungeon, that would be tragically short-sighted. 

Yet might we all be prone to doing something similar? Let’s see how. Spiritual wisdom-traditions often compare material existence to a place of darkness. We try to do something meaningful with our life, but whatever we try ends up leaving us disappointed. 

By some good fortune, we may gain access to spiritual wisdom and start approaching spiritual light. Unfortunately, that light can sometimes seem so bright as to be discomforting, even overwhelming. Why does that happen? Because once our spirituality starts giving us clarity about life’s meaning and purpose, that vision brings into stark light both our externals and internals. Externally, we realize that so many of our past activities were frivolous at best and self-destructive at worst. Internally, we realize that we still have so many misconceptions and impurities that keep impelling us to repeat our past actions. Feeling crushingly disheartened by what the light shows about us, we may turn away from spiritual growth and seek comfort in our past materialistic way of living. 

How can we avoid such a self-induced catastrophe? By taking heart from the Bhagavad-gita assurance that the light will soon become bearable — what tastes like poison initially will taste like nectar eventually (18.37). If we persist on the spiritual path, the light of wisdom will start showing a more comforting reality: Despite our many misdirected activities and misdirecting notions — and maybe even through them — a higher plan was, and is, drawing us toward a better, fuller, richer life. 

One-sentence summary: 

Giving up spiritual life because it feels uncomfortable is like turning back to a dungeon because the light feels too bright.

Think it over:

  • How are we like someone trapped in a dark dungeon?
  • Why may spiritual light seem unbearable?
  • How does that light become bearable? 

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18.37: That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.

To know more about this verse, please click on the image