Question
Extract from a private email
I am not happy. Actually I feel miserable…
I miss a wife and friends to be happy…
Answer
Analogies are useful. Some find them often silly. It may be but I find that can help to understand a concept better and faster.
Let’s use one.
Let’s suppose that you put you hand in a fire; obviously you scream in pain. You write me an email saying:
“I put my hand in the fire and as a result I am in pain. What should I do?”
I’d answer:
“The reason of your pain is in the fact that fire hurts. Take your hand off the flames.”
And you:
“No, if I had a wife and friends I’ll not be in pain anymore.”
And I:
“I guarantee you, if you had wife and friends you’ll still be in pain. Actually would be worse because wives and friend are like gasoline: the fire will blaze even more. The solution is one and one only: you have to take your hand off the fire.”
You can get back to me thousand times, the facts and my answers will not change: material life means suffering. You ask anyone who has wives and friends: they are not happy.
Similarly people suffer in this material world and are convinced that the solution is to conquer more material facilities: money, family, friends etc.
Although the idea sounds good, Srimad-Bhagavatam says that this means progressing towards hell.
sri-prahlada uvaca
matir na krsne paratah svato va
mitho ‘bhipadyeta grha-vratanam
adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram
punah punas carvita-carvananam
“Prahlada Maharaja replied:
Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Krsna are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, by their own efforts, or by a combination of both.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.5.30)
Visatam tamisram, entering into hellish condition of life. Srila Prabhupada comments on this verse is nothing short of epic. Please read it.
So, as I told you so many times during these many years, as long as you do not give up hopes to enjoy with your material body and mind you’ll never be happy. Just chant Hare Krishna, do devotional service, don’t be distracted by exterior circumstances, persons or things, study the scriptures, serve the Deities, associate with devotees without disrespecting anyone.
Happiness is in renunciation, not in amassing material facilities.
Of course I know you are ill. Due to some past sinful activities you are having a difficult life. But at the same time you had the blessing to have met Krishna consciousness. Strive to make the best use of it.
– Manonatha Dasa (ACBSP)
11 may 2019
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