When we tolerate the troubles, while performing our deeds without faltering in our duty, it becomes tapas (spiritual practice).
From the book Liberation Here Itself Right Now Part II
THE TWO DEEDS
Vasantha: These people are not
bothered about anything. They are born; they live and die only to be born
again! Thus, they are ever revolving in this cycle of birth and death.
Swami: That is an illusion. Birth, growth, death,
again birth, and so on, the same rotation! Whatever one earns (material wealth)
does not accompany him after death. But, he carries ‘bag loads’ of consequences
of his punya (good deeds) and papa (bad deeds). Accordingly, he gets the next
birth. Two deeds, both are shackles. If one is an iron shackle, the other is a
gold shackle. The existence of these two deeds will lead to slavery. One can’t
become totally free.
Vasantha:
How can we do away with these deeds?
Swami: Only when sin (papa) and merit (punya) get
exhausted will one consider God as the only refuge and surrender to Him
totally. When one totally surrenders, the consequences won’t bind him. Not
realizing this, man is born only to die and be born again. Thus, he gets
entangled in the cycle. He feels happiness in this and wastes his birth. He
thinks the evanescent to be eternal and lives in a state of unawareness.
* * * * *
“Irul
ser iru vinyaum sera iraivan
Porul ser pugazh purindar mattu”
Those who sing the
praise of God and understand things in the right perspective will not be bound
by the consequences of actions. This Thirukkural verse aptly applies here.