...the problem of evil (pain)...

...Evil is pain...If we think of all pain as Self-chosen, wouldn't sadomasochism (named from the Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch) actually be an extreme form of, dare we say it, Pleasure? Because, ultimately, it would be God (the true Self) who suffers (LIKE Christ suffered His "Passion").  From THIS angle (The Supreme Being of Divine Love) then, pain could be an extreme form of Pleasure (like when we say things like "Hurts so good", "Cruel to be kind", and speak of "Tough Love")...