krishna/articles/2011/223

Krsna says to Arjuna that "These material sufferings are just like the sufferings of season, seasonal suffering." In summer season also, you suffer, and in winter season also, we suffer. Sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah. And the same thing, this fire, in summer season it is suffering. The heat is suffering. And in the winter season is suffering, but in the summer season it is pleasing. The same water, the same fire -- sometimes it is suffering; sometimes it is pleasing. But the matter is the same. Why? Matra-sparsah: it is due to the touch of the skin. Because we have got this skin disease, "I am this body," therefore you are suffering, because you have become so nonsense rascal that "I am this body." Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. Tri-dhatuke: This is the bag of three elements: kapha, pitta, vayu. Kapha, pitta, vayu. According to Ayurvedic system, they are called tri-dhatu. So this body is made of material elements: kapha, pitta, vayu. So,

So the more we are in bodily concept of life, the suffering is more. Nowadays new things have developed: nationalism, communism, communalism, so many things. Sufferings are more. We have seen in 1947 in Calcutta Hindu-Muslim riot -- more suffering because one is thinking, "I am Hindu," one is thinking, "I am Muslim." But if one is advanced in Krsna consciousness, then they will not suffer. They will not unnecessarily fight, "Because I am Hindi or because you are Muslim, therefore we have to fight." No. Because if both of them know that "I am not this body. Therefore I am neither Hindu nor Muslim. I am eternal servant of Krsna," then where is the suffering of Hindu-Muslim riot? The understanding is missing. Because people are being educated to become more bodily conscious, therefore their sufferings are increasing. Sufferings are increasing. And if you reduce this bodily concept of life, then suffering also will be reduced.

So those who are Krsna conscious, Krsna conscious means, here it is said, mad-gata-cetasah. Naitan mad-gata-cetasah. Mad-gata. Bhagavan says, "Those who are always thinking of, in the mind, within the heart," mad-gata-cetasah, "they are not suffering." They are not suffering in this way because they know that "Even if I am suffering, it is Krsna's desire." So they welcome. Just like Kunti. Queen Kunti, when Krsna was departing, taking farewell from Kunti, so Kunti said, "My dear Krsna, when we are in full of danger, at that time You are always present as our friend, as our advisor. Now we are well situated. We have got our kingdom. We are well established. So You are going away to Dvaraka? No, no, no, this is not good. Better we may again go to that suffering so that we can remember You always." So the devotee sometimes welcomes suffering because that is an opportunity of remembering Krsna very constantly. Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam [SB 10.14.8]. So when a devotee suffers, he thinks that "It is due to my past misdeeds. So I am suffering not very much, a very little, on account of Krsna's grace. So it doesn't matter." So after all, it is, everything, in the mind, suffering and enjoying. So a devotee's mind is trained up in Krsna consciousness. Therefore he does not care for suffering. That is the difference between a devotee and nondevotee.

Therefore it is said that tapanti vividhas tapa na etan mad-gata-cetasah. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. So how much suffering he had to undergo, the five-years-old boy, and his father was putting in dangers, sometimes under the feet, leg of the elephant, sometimes throwing from the mountain, sometimes on burning oil, sometimes amongst the snakes, so many ways. But he was silent. Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura was a Muhammadan by birth. So he became a very good devotee and always chanting Hare Krsna. That was his fault. So the Muslim Kazi called him, that "You are Muhammadan. You born in a such great family, Muhammadan family, and you are chanting Hindu's Hare Krsna mantra? What is this?" So he mildly replied, "My dear sir, there are many Hindus, they also have become Muhammadan. So suppose I have become Hindu. So what is the wrong? What is the wrong there?" So Kazi became very angry, that "You are talking before me? All right." So he was punished to be caned in twenty-two bazaar, in front of twenty-two bazaar. That means he was to be killed by caning. So it is understood, when he was beaten by the cane, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was on his back. So he did not feel any suffering. So there are many instances. A devotee had to suffer many sufferings, but they did not take it very much severely. They tolerated. And a devotee is educated to tolerate.