The Dream of Suffering: Grateful for What’s Mine

It's time for Thursday Tale Time (TTT 31/2024).

Today, I'm sharing a true story from Osho's discourse.

There is an ancient Sufi story:

The man was heavily weighed down by his immense suffering. Every day, he would pray to God, questioning, "Why has this happened to me?" One day, In a state of immense desperation, he prayed to God, expressing his readiness to accept the suffering of another individual.

The dream he had that night was nothing short of stunning, with its beauty and profound revelations. In his dream, he witnessed God appearing in the sky and telling everyone to gather their sufferings and take them to the temple. Everyone was sick of his suffering - actually, everyone has prayed at some point, I am open to embracing the suffering of others, in exchange for the relief of my own. Carrying their burdens in bags, everybody joyfully arrived at the temple, their prayers finally answered. Moreover, this man also hurried to the temple.

God commanded, Place your bags next to the walls. All the bags were positioned near the walls, and in that instant, God announced, "Now you have the freedom to select any bag, and anyone can take whichever bag they prefer."

The most surprising thing was that this man, who had been praying consistently, eagerly rushed towards his bag before anyone else had a chance to claim it. Little did he know, a surprise awaited him as everyone quickly went to retrieve their own bag, each person filled with joy to select it once again.

What was wrong? For the first time, everybody had seen others’ miseries, others’ sufferings, their bags were as big, or even bigger.

Another problem was that individuals had become familiar with their own suffering. Now, when choosing someone else's bag, who knows what kind of hardships might be hidden inside the bag? Is it worth it? It's a relief that you're familiar with your own suffering and have learned to tolerate it. For so many years you have tolerated them — why choose the unknown?

Everyone left feeling happy. Nothing had changed, they were bringing the same suffering back, but everyone was all smiles and thrilled that he got his bag back.

In the morning, he knelt down and whispered a prayer of gratitude to God, saying, "Thank you for the beautiful dream." I will never dare to ask that question again. The items you have given me must be beneficial for me, as you have selected them for me.

What insights or knowledge can be gained from reading this story?

The great learning from this Sufi story is about acceptance and perspective. It teaches us that everyone carries their own burdens and sufferings, which may seem unbearable at times, but compared to others, our struggles may be just as tolerable, if not preferable. We often assume others' lives are easier or happier, but when given a chance to see their hardships, we realize that our own challenges are familiar and manageable.

This story encourages us to embrace our suffering, understanding that it is uniquely suited to our growth and circumstances. It teaches gratitude for what we have, fostering inner peace by recognizing that everyone faces difficulties, even if they are not always visible. Rather than longing for a different life, we should seek satisfaction and resilience in our present circumstances.