Embracing Suffering: The Gateway to Transcendence
Life has a unique way of presenting challenges, moments of pain, and instances that can feel overwhelmingly unbearable. But as Bentinho Massaro suggests, there’s transformative power in suffering. By understanding and harnessing this power, we can uncover profound wisdom and spiritual growth.
For many, suffering is seen as a form of initiation. It’s a rite of passage, leading to greater self-awareness and spiritual enlightenment. When we start to approach life’s hardships with an open heart, the fear associated with suffering begins to diminish. We reach a point of surrender, where the resistance we feel towards our pain is surrendered back to the Divine, the Source, or as many might say, God.
But Bentinho highlights a crucial point: while suffering can be transformative, we don’t need to actively seek it. If we cultivate awareness, if we truly pay attention, we can align ourselves with our higher self’s desires and purposes. In this alignment, we can begin to understand the incongruences in our desires and how they might contradict our spiritual path.
Our pain, whether it’s a sudden jolt of sadness or a slow build-up of unresolved trauma, offers an opportunity. It’s a chance to peel back our layers, confront our shadows, and dive deeper into our spiritual journey. And as we do this, it takes immense courage. Bentinho notes, “Do you have a better suggestion?” Indicating that when suffering is present, we might as well harness its transformative potential.
The nature of suffering is often tied to our attachments—our dependencies on objects, situations, or even people. Bentinho reminds us that when we find ourselves clinging to these external entities, it’s essential to shift our focus from object dependency to God dependency. In essence, it’s about surrendering our pain to a higher power. When we do this, the nature of our suffering changes, making space for relief, insights, and even bliss.
One of the most poignant moments in Bentinho’s discourse is the analogy of transmuting iron to gold. Like alchemists of old, we can transform our pain into spiritual gold. By altering our relationship with our pain and suffering, by surrendering it to a higher power, we tap into an alchemical process. Our suffering is no longer just an isolated experience; it becomes a sacred act of transmutation.
In the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:3-4, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” This biblical reference aligns perfectly with Bentinho’s teachings, reminding us of the spiritual depth and growth that comes from enduring hardships.
In embracing our suffering, in surrendering it to the divine, we find our dance. We find our flow. We find our purpose and our path. As Bentinho concludes, “Change your relationship from objects to things, especially when you suffer, and you find your heart opens.”
Spiritual Reference:
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3-4