A king, who did not believe in any religion or God, had a minister who, in all circumstances, said: “My king, do not be discouraged, because everything that happens, happens for our good, with God’s grace, even the negative events.”

One day a person who manufactured swords came to the king to sell his goods. While checking out the sharp edge of the sword the king accidentally cut his little finger. He was in obvious pain and unhappy for losing his finger.

The minister, as was his habit, said, “My king, do not be discouraged, because everything that happens, happens for our good, with God’s grace, even the negative events.”

Furious at the minister for what he said, the king replied, “Here I am in pain having lost my finger and you have the audacity to say whatever has happened, with God’s grace is for my good?”

The minister again repeated the same thing. Outraged by the response, the king ordered the guards to put the minister in the dungeon.

When the minister heard the king’s order, he said, “Everything that happens, happens for our good, with God’s grace, even the negative events.”

Later, the king left for hunting, but soon got separated from the hunting party in the deep forest and was captured by savages who offered human sacrifices.

On the altar, ready to sacrifice the king, the savages found that the victim had one of his fingers missing, so he was released. According to them, he was not complete to be offered to their gods. The king was pleased with this turn of events. He thought that there is some truth in what the minister said.

Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his minister whom he received very affectionately.

“My dear, what you say is right! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: How has it benefited you by being in the dungeon, because when I gave the order you said the same thing?”

“My King, had you not put me in the dungeon, I would have also gone with you hunting, and I would have been sacrificed instead of you, because I have no missing finger. Therefore, remember everything that happens, happens for our own good, even the negative events.”

Teaching:

Often we complain about life, and negative events and experiences that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose. At the time of the event or the experience we may not be in a position to comprehend it. As it is said, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

In worldly life, troubles are needed to develop the mines of human intelligence. That is how many great discoveries and inventions have taken place. Similarly, pain, sorrows and miseries are needed to propel us on the spiritual path and progress in spiritual life. Barring a few exceptions, most people come on the spiritual path due to some kind of negative events or experiences in their lives. Prince Siddhartha would not have taken to spiritual life if he were just confined to the comforts and luxuries of palace life. When he witnessed miseries, old age, disease and death, he renounced the world, turned to spirituality and later came to known the world over as Lord Gautama, the Buddha.

A great Master, Samartha Ramdas Swami has said that when there are too many sorrows and miseries in life know that life will take a positive turn, a quantum leap on the spiritual path.

A great saint, Anandamayi Maa has said that to not have any sorrow, misery or pain in life means never to have been blessed.

The soul that is without suffering does not feel the need to know the ultimate cause of the universe and realize one’s own essential Self nor does the question “who am I” will ever arise in such a one. Sickness, grief, hardships…..are all indispensable elements in the spiritual ascent.

Hence when sadness and sufferings become intense and intolerable, know for certain that a new era is going to dawn bringing signal progress.

Therefore, never ever get disheartened, depressed or discouraged by negative events and experiences that may happen in your life. Everything that happens in our lives is for our own good. We need to develop the intuitive intellect to comprehend it.