Why does God permit suffering in the world?

Yogananda Paramahamsa and Ramana Maharshi

from "Talks With Ramana Maharshi"):

November 29th, 1935

Yogananda Paramahamsa: 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 realisation of God?

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

Yogananda Paramahamsa: Should He not ordain it differently?

Ramana Maharshi: It is the way.

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

Ramana Maharshi: Who suffers? What is suffering?

On hearing this Swami Yogananda became silent.

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from ("Conversations with Annamalai Swami"): 

Question: It takes a lot of effort to get stabilized in the Self. I am not sure if my friend is capable of making the effort.

Annamalai Swami: Yes, a great effort is needed. When wood is wet it will not catch fire immediately. It must be first dried in the sun. When our minds have been dried by constant meditation, a single spark from the Self will ignite them.

Some people undergo much suffering because of their past sinful karma. This suffering purifies the mind to some extent in the same way that sunlight dries out wet wood. After the minds have been purified to some extent they become more fit for jnana.

God often creates a lot of difficulties for us merely to divert our attention from the world and turn it to Him.

When we feel pain and frustration we begin to ask, 'What can we do that will help us to get rid of this suffering?'

Often we turn to God for help. The sufferings in this world are often a gift from God. It is through the gate of misery and suffering that we can enter the kingdom of God.

Suffering only appears to exist because we identify with the body and the mind. In reality there is no misery and no suffering.

Bhagavan used to say. There is nothing wrong with God s creation. Misery and suffering only exist in the mind.'