Swami Yogananda: Why does God permit suffering in the world? Should He not with His omnipotence do away with it at one stroke and ordain the universal realization of God?

Ramana Maharshi: Suffering is the way for Realisation of God.

Yogananda: Should He not ordain it differently?

Maharshi: It is the way.

Yogananda: Are yoga, religion, etc., antidotes to suffering?

Maharshi: Who suffers? What is suffering?

On hearing this Swami Yogananda became silent.

Talks With Ramana Maharshi
November 29th, 1935