I know it for a fact that suffering is a result of a result of man’s transgressions of God’s laws. I also know that Paramhansa Yogananda was God realized and did not like people to be troubled by pain and suffering. My question will human civilization reach a stage where there will be no suffering or suffering almost negligible?
—Niraj Sharma, India
Dear Niraj,
According to Yogananda and his guru Sri Yukteswar we are in the beginning of the ascending arc of a twenty-four thousand year yuga cycle. Satya yuga, the highest “Golden Age” of the cycle begins in 7700 A.D. and will last for 9600 years. Sri Yukteswar wrote that during Satya yuga mankind in general would directly comprehend the Spirit beyond material creation. A golden age indeed.
Alas, the yugas proceed in a cycle. Satya yuga will pass and mankind will go into a descending age once again and eventually reach the lowest age, Kali yuga, once more. However, we don’t have to reincarnate thousands of years from now to personally experience such a high state of consciousness. We can achieve our own golden age within through deep meditation aided by Kriya yoga.
We are incarnated in the age in which we need to work out our karma — but we can rise above its limitations if we choose.
Warm regards,
Puru (Joseph) Selbie