Why does pain and suffering promote spiritual gorwth?

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Robert_Sock

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Sickness will surely take the mind
Where minds can’t usually go
Come on the amazing journey
And learn all you should know
–Who - Amazing Journey

So many of the saints suffered greatly and benefited by it. In my own life I have so often reached higher spiritual awareness due to an illness.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Sickness will surely take the mind
Where minds can’t usually go
Come on the amazing journey
And learn all you should know
–Who - Amazing Journey

So many of the saints suffered greatly and benefited by it. In my own life I have so often reached higher spiritual awareness due to an illness.
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This is a good question. First, I do not think that so many people do undergo spiritual growth due to their own pain and suffering. It may instead lead to the opposite effect, that is, a loss of faith. However, the fact that pain and suffering do promote spiritual growth in some people is reason enough to consider how this happens.

From a psychological perspective based on studies in helping behavior, it has been found that people who observe OTHERS who are suffering begin to feel uncomfortable THEMSELVES due to a distressing increase in their physiological arousal. Therefore, to reduce the arousal, one can either try to escape the situation by means of distraction or, if this is not possible, attempt to reduce the suffering of those whom one observes. The arousal theory of helping behavior is not based so much on altruistic helping but rather on self-focused concern in alleviating one’s own personal distress. Nonetheless, I believe that in the process of helping others, concern and caring for their welfare may begin to develop, as well as a spiritual transformation in one’s own psyche. One may soon come to realize that personal suffering is not all that takes place in life, and start to pay more attention and take action to alleviate the suffering endured by other people.

I believe, however, that your question is more directed toward pain and suffering that originates in oneself rather than in others, and how this may lead to spiritual growth. I would be interested in hearing other people’s views concerning the process involved.
 
Great topic Robert. I believe that one of the most logical benefits from suffering is an increase in strength and courage. For example, I spend a lot of time mountaineering. After getting up before the sun, being cold, hiking all day, fearing for my life at times, trying not to get lost after the sun sets and returning to a cold dark tent feeling exhausted I have to wonder what is the point. The conclusion that I have reached is that suffering and trials lead to greater strength of mind, body and spirit.

Tommy is an interesting case… in response to a highly traumatic event he fell into a self-induced loss of sense. It is my opinion that Tommy regained his senses once he was strong enough to interact with the world again. There is obviously a lot more to this story as well as Pete Townshend’s personal story.
 
meltzerboy said:
This is a good question. First, I do not think that so many people do undergo spiritual growth due to their own pain and suffering. It may instead lead to the opposite effect, that is, a loss of faith. However, the fact that pain and suffering do promote spiritual growth in some people is reason enough to consider how this happens.

From a psychological perspective based on studies in helping behavior, it has been found that people who observe OTHERS who are suffering begin to feel uncomfortable THEMSELVES due to a distressing increase in their physiological arousal. Therefore, to reduce the arousal, one can either try to escape the situation by means of distraction or, if this is not possible, attempt to reduce the suffering of those whom one observes. The arousal theory of helping behavior is not based so much on altruistic helping but rather on self-focused concern in alleviating one’s own personal distress. Nonetheless, I believe that in the process of helping others, concern and caring for their welfare may begin to develop, as well as a spiritual transformation in one’s own psyche. One may soon come to realize that personal suffering is not all that takes place in life, and start to pay more attention and take action to alleviate the suffering endured by other people.

I believe, however, that your question is more directed toward pain and suffering that originates in oneself rather than in others, and how this may lead to spiritual growth. I would be interested in hearing other people’s views concerning the process involved.
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Pain and suffering just seems to lift the soul to new heights. It can also lead to a lot of soul searching where values get prioritized, and perhaps allowing us to see where we may be offending God. OTOH, I tend to give great thanksgiving to God for getting me over an illness, and then special graces just seem to increasingly flow.
 
First of all, this is in no way automatic.

Too many folks think that it is, and so, in a well-meaning but misguided way, refer to the suffering of others as a “gift” or similarly. These remarks can easily make someone feel worse.

Pain and suffering are just what they are, the result of having to live human life in an entropic body.

That said, it can be something like fasting. Physical discomfort and distress, by weakening our reliance on the one literally “solid” element in our life – our human body, can lead one to a greater reliance on our LORD.

ICXC NIKA.
 
Hello all,
I believe pain, suffering, struggling are a part of the natural order of becoming stronger physically as well as mentally, and spiritually. In order for a chick to survive it needs to work or struggle its way out of the egg shell. Barring any predators the chicks should survive I suppose. However I remember hearing of a chick that was helped out of it’s shell by scientists doing an experiment-it didn’t need to struggle or work at all and died soon after being “helped”.
I suppose as human animals we can become more spiritual since we really are spiritual beings having this physical experience. That is if we are conscious enough to be able to use the pain, suffering, struggles, etc… for our betterment. Too often in my opinion folks are trying in any manner possible to avoid the pain, and suffering through the many distractions available to us (booze, drugs, tv, internet, games, etc…) that they simply see the suffering as something to be avoided at all costs which in my view is illogical. Peace-be well.
 
GEddie said:
First of all, this is in no way automatic.

Too many folks think that it is, and so, in a well-meaning but misguided way, refer to the suffering of others as a “gift” or similarly. These remarks can easily make someone feel worse.

Pain and suffering are just what they are, the result of having to live human life in an entropic body.

That said, it can be something like fasting. Physical discomfort and distress, by weakening our reliance on the one literally “solid” element in our life – our human body, can lead one to a greater reliance on our LORD.

ICXC NIKA.
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Definitely not automatic! But deep soul searching, and offering one’s suffering up to God as a righteous sacrifice that’s acceptable to Him.
 
GEddie said:
Pain and suffering are just what they are, the result of having to live human life in an entropic body.
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Pain and suffering are definitely more complex than that. The souls in hell would feel pain and suffering. I am pretty sure the souls in purgatory would also feel pain and suffering. Pain and suffering exist outside the bounds of the human world.

BTW great point about suffering not automatically promoting spiritual growth.
 
MTarcisius said:
Pain and suffering are definitely more complex than that. The souls in hell would feel pain and suffering. I am pretty sure the souls in purgatory would also feel pain and suffering. Pain and suffering exist outside the bounds of the human world.

BTW great point about suffering not automatically promoting spiritual growth.
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You need to distinguish between pain and suffering. Pain is a biological perception; it requires biological nerves and head.

Suffering is in the mind and may not relate to the embodiment at all.

So pure-spirit entities might suffer, but would not feel “pain” (unless they had been human, and were feeling a “phantom body,” analogous to phantom limbs after amputation).

ICXC NIKA
 
Great thread as always, Robert, and meltzerboy, I thoroughly love your answer. I think that one way pain and suffering can foster spiritual growth is by opening us up to the suffering of others that is all around us. I know that for myself, when I was younger, I sort of conceived of suffering as existing on a kind of spectrum, similarly to how we view intelligence. I assumed that some people were more sensitive to pain, while other people were less sensitive to pain. The older I get though, I see this as a subtle form of egoism that probably doesn’t have any basis in reality. It seems to me that the more one suffers the more one is able to recognize and empathize with others’ suffering. At this point I’m convinced that if true equality exists anywhere in nature, it’s to be found in universal suffering.🤷 It’s an excellent basis for loving one’s neighbor.
 
GEddie said:
You need to distinguish between pain and suffering. Pain is a biological perception; it requires biological nerves and head.

Suffering is in the mind and may not relate to the embodiment at all.

So pure-spirit entities might suffer, but would not feel “pain” (unless they had been human, and were feeling a “phantom body,” analogous to phantom limbs after amputation).

ICXC NIKA
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First of all this would be easier if you had provided actual definitions. However, based on the distinction you provided that would mean suffering transcends the bounds of the human world.

Since this is becoming a discussion of semantics. Pain is defined in many different ways. One definition from the New Oxford Dictionary is “mental suffering or distress”. This helps to reinforce your statement that pain requires a body. However it also lists suffering as a synonym with pain…

To restate my point suffering is more than just a result of physical life and nature.

Also, anyone who is interested in this topic should go pray the rosary meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries, it’s pretty powerful.
 
When one suffers, they have a choice.

You can become BITTER
or you can become BETTER.

Make your choice.
 
Rosebud77 said:
Simply it doesnt
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Maybe you are correct; pain and suffering are probably not what cause spiritual growth. However, many people have grown spiritually through pain and suffering. So perhaps the question would be what causes the spiritual growth through pain and suffering? My answer would be that sacrificing, acceptance and self-denial would be what is causing spiritual growth through suffering.
 
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