Everything needs to go through suffering to become something higher, just as a caterpillar needs to be in a cocoon in order to become a butterfly. 

“Not all storms come to destroy your life; some come to clean your path.” – Seneca

Suffering is given for us, not to us. We can use it for our evolution. Transformation of suffering is the highest use of it. Evolution happens through transformation. 

Everything is a payment for this, everything needs to be transformed. There are so many times we consider things very important. And they may be important to a certain point, but the highest is still awakening. There are times when things happen and we go in a whirl of thoughts. “How could it have been different?” or “What we could we have done earlier?”

These are just thoughts, not reality. It is what it is. As Gurdjieff said, “If it could be done another way, it would be done another way.” If it could be different, it would be different. We are exactly where we need to be. Things are exactly how they need to be. There is a reason it is the way it is. And the reason is that we can use it for evolution. Everything that happens to us, or what we think we do, is a mere stepping stone to be closer to presence. We need something to create something. 

Transformation can occur with both trivial moments and big events. From annoyance about traffic to losing a dear friend, we can use everything to arrive at the present. These are all scenarios that we can use to awaken. Obviously we need to work with them externally. But what counts is how we work with them internally. 

What is transformation? How do we transform?

From one angle it is the acceptance of reality and the deep sense that one cannot do anything. 

We need to begin with acceptance and continue by separating from the situation. Then we stay present to it, just feel it, observe it and be with it. 

Suffering brings a reminder and a possibility to choose the higher. Many times it’s unavoidable even if it looks avoidable. 

It feels very helpless when you are experiencing some suffering. But just hold it; don’t try to think about it. Feel it and be present to its effect on you. It is not like a circle; it is a spiral. Suffering keeps coming back. Yet every time we go through transformation of suffering, we are at a higher level. 

Consciousness is complete, satisfying, and meaningful. If suffering didn’t exist, life would be so comfortable; there would be no need to be conscious. Maybe that is why many ancient saints have said, “O Lord, give me suffering and the strength to endure suffering.” As much as suffering seems difficult and unpleasant, it is the nature of awakening.

“Time was created to transform into presence.” – Robert Burton

Dhruvi Chavda practices the Fourth Way in India. For other articles of hers, see: https://fourthwaytoday.org/author/dhruvi-chavda/.