We are told in the movie "Kalank" that a dying person must fix their karma and not their health. That seems to be some sound advice.
Just as there are many priorities in each phase of our lives, there are many meanings to things at different moments in our lives too. For instance, what is perceived earlier as a song of prayer from Avvai to a kid, changes to become a song potent with a recipe for health to a student of Siddha medicine, and becomes a song of Gnanam for one treading the path under the surveillance of a guru to know himself.
Similarly, pain and suffering start in the causal body or Karana Degam which moves into the gross and physical body bringing it on. What determines the cause is the past actions in the present or earlier lives, be it the good, the bad, or ugly of us, that rewards us with goodies as in the former or is brought into this life as Vasanas either seeking justice or to square it off as in the latter two.
Since we are so used to seeing and perceiving directly through our senses and having the mind interpret them based on our past visions, hearing, smell, touch, and taste or the teachings and learnings from books and others, our mind is clouded. We do not go beyond the physical world and its play or illusions. We dress ourselves for this great play and the role we have taken. The guru comes to bring in the light, clearing the air, and having us see our true Self or Atman or JeevAtma. One who knows the Self or Atman or JeevAtma indeed knows himself to be one with the ParamAtma. There is no disparity or distinction between the two. He is then the One or Yegan.