The Trouble With Trouble

by Alan L. Pritz

Recently I came under attack. It wasn't from a crook or mugger. Rather it was from my own inner demons and temptations. In and of itself this isn't surprising. Each of us has character flaws and it's no crime to be tempted. Christ was. Buddha was. Paramahansa Yogananda was. Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Ramakrishna, and St. Francis were. So, we're all in good company! Temptations surround us like bacteria. In fact, they are part of the nature of life to test and strengthen us. The problem comes if one gives in to them.

The nature of temptation is appearance. It imitates celestial bliss via intoxicatingly sweet yet poisonous sense lures. If seduced by the sweetness, a fall usually lay close behind. In Homer's classic, The Odyssey, Odysseus purposely confronted temptation via the Sirens. What did they appeal to? The senses! He knew their power and was lashed to a ship mast to avoid leaping to his doom. This was wise because unless anchored in wisdom, feelings often overcome reason and cause people to plunge into error. This may sound melodramatic, but it's true. How many divorces have been spawned by quick, seemingly irresistible trysts with passion? How many crooked deals have been made from easy but illegal financial opportunities? 'Nuff said.

Suffice it to say there are times when each of us may be confronted by unique tests or temptation. My own episode was intense. I found that for a period my mind was in a fog and things I'd taken for granted seemed mutable. It was as though a blanket had been thrown over my head and the ability to see clearly was dimmed by the opaque nature of delusion. Fortunately I realized it was important to openly discuss my crisis with trusted people. Though not always the way to go, in this instance I felt that being mute was the last thing I needed - "…every one that doeth evil hateth the light..but he that doeth truth cometh to the light.."John 3:20, 21.

Secondly, I recognized that current life interactions are a complex tapestry of past-life relations variously decorated with pre-natal and post-natal tendencies. In other words, we all come with "stuff". It is the nature of conscious living to purify our weaknesses in the furnace of Truth. As long as we continue to seek lasting joy in things of the world, so long must we re-incarnate until the lesson of Spirit-fulfillment is gained. But this ain't always easy!

It was during this episode that I began to appreciate Jesus' comments to John the Baptist about His imminent baptism. He said, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15). Though not a New Testament scholar, what struck me about this passage was the adjoining of the term "suffer" with "righteousness". Given my struggle, I could feel a palpable tension between pursuing my temptation with what I knew to be correct. There truly was a degree of suffering involved. Yet the end product, righteousness, was the only course of action I could truly get behind. And to a real degree it hurt to do so. However, once decided upon, the fogginess that beset me cleared up as did my perspective.

Retrospectively I could see that rightness shone throughout the trial like the Polestar for lost sailors. But, it could have easily been overlooked if too drunk on ignorance or blinded by desire. Now, lest pride set in, I did suffer inner bruises from unsettling revelations gained along the way. I also became aware of other individuals who weren't as fortunate. Apparently simultaneously tested in their own weak areas, these persons succumbed. So, but for the Grace of God, there go I!

That said, how should one handle a fall? Well, get back up! As the saint Sri Yukteswar remarked, "Forget the past. The vanished lives of all men are dark with many shames. Human conduct is ever unreliable until man is anchored in the Divine. Everything in future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now." It isn't error that should overly concern us, but growing in the Light. To label oneself a sinner and sink into self-pity serves no one, most especially oneself. Learn from mistakes and move forward. As Paramhansa Yogananda said, "A saint is a sinner that didn't give up!" The real Self is taintless and pure. Once we experience this Self and become fully identified with it, our past errors are erased in the flame of wisdom. Just as darkness vanishes once a light is turned on, so too does the darkness of ignorance vanish once the Light of Illumination is attained.

What is the take-away from this article - to not mind falling into temptation? No. That is a reality that can happen, but not one to be sought after. Rather, learn to be vigilant and strong. Recognize that desire and temptation have their power. Part of it is appeal. What do you really want? Part of it is weakness. Where can you stand some character shaping? Recognize that caving in to temptation will not really provide satisfaction. Only by taking the high road, by suffering to fulfill righteousness in such circumstances can one truly feel good about oneself and at peace. Although painful at the time, the lasting gain is worth the sometimes-searing effort.