Gita 10.4

Sadhak: "The verse lists happiness AND sorrow, fear AND fearlessness as coming from Krishna. How can opposites have the same source? Doesn't God represent only the good?"

Guru: "Look at the ocean - does it produce only calm waves, or also storms? Is the sun only gentle warmth, or also scorching heat?"

Sadhak: "Both, always both. But we call storms and scorching heat 'bad.' Surely God is not the source of bad things?"

Guru: "Who decided sorrow is 'bad'? What if sorrow is as necessary for growth as happiness? What if fear protects the body that allows spiritual practice?"

Sadhak: "I see... from that perspective, even difficult states have value. But then is there no ultimate good or evil, just divine play?"

Guru: "There is dharma and adharma, actions that liberate and actions that bind. But the capacity for both comes from the same Source. What do you do with fire - warm yourself or burn your house?"

Sadhak: "The choice is mine, but the fire itself is neutral, coming from nature, from the Divine."

Guru: "Now apply this to your inner states. When sorrow arises, instead of asking 'Why is God punishing me?' what question might you ask?"

Sadhak: "'What is the Divine teaching me through this capacity I've been given?' The sorrow itself comes from God, so it must have purpose."

Guru: "And when you understand that even your fear is a divine gift - perhaps keeping you safe, perhaps teaching you trust - does fear remain pure torment?"

Sadhak: "No... it becomes another face of the Divine showing me something. I can be curious about it instead of just suffering it."