Your fifth question, "Is this understanding of verse 18, chap. 4, correct; that the sage sees material activities as zero (inaction in action) and sees the devotee seated chanting as eternally active (action in inaction)?" Yes, action in inaction—action means to do something of which the result is enjoyed by the doer; that is action. But when things are done for Krishna, the result is enjoyed by Krishna. When we put ourselves in the position of enjoying good or bad reaction, then we suffer or enjoy. But action in Krishna Consciousness has nothing to do with such material suffering or enjoying. Therefore action in Krishna Consciousness is inaction, whereas a person doing nothing materially may appear to be inaction to others, but actually he is doing something for Krishna. In other words, the materialist thinks of the devotees as inactive. Similarly, the devotees think of the karmis as inactive—simply spoiling time, building sandcastles.
Enjoy or suffer (Letters)
Expressions researched:
"enjoy and suffer"
|"enjoy or suffer"
|"enjoyed or suffered"
|"enjoyer or sufferer"
|"enjoying or suffering"
|"enjoyment and suffering"
|"enjoyment or suffering"
|"enjoys or suffers"
|"suffer and enjoy"
|"suffer distress or enjoy"
|"suffer or enjoy"
|"suffer or to enjoy"
|"suffer or try to enjoy"
|"suffer or you enjoy"
|"suffer, sometimes we enjoy"
|"suffered or enjoyed"
|"sufferer or enjoyer"
|"suffering also, and enjoyment"
|"suffering and enjoying"
|"suffering and enjoyment"
|"suffering and sense enjoyment"
|"suffering and somebody enjoyment"
|"suffering as enjoying"
|"suffering as enjoyment"
|"suffering nor enjoying"
|"suffering nor enjoyment"
|"suffering or enjoying"
|"suffering or enjoying"
|"suffering or enjoyment"
|"sufferings and enjoyments"
|"sufferings as enjoyment"
|"sufferings or enjoyment"
|"suffers or enjoys"
Correspondence
1969 Correspondence
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1969, sent along with your beads. I have chanted on them and your initiated name is Giriraja. Giriraja is the name of the Govardhana Hill on which Krishna used to tend His cows. In Vrindaban the Govardhana Hill is worshiped as a representation of Krishna. Sometimes devotees take stone from Govardhana Hill and keep it at home as a representation of Krishna, and they worship in this way. I am very glad to understand that you have at least relished some of the transcendental bliss of Krishna Consciousness. It is a great fortune for you. Living entities are roaming within the universes in different species of life and in different planetary systems enjoying or suffering the reaction of pious or impious activities. But they have no information how to get out of this entanglement of repetition of birth and death. Due to the darkness of ignorance, most living entities have no idea about the values of life. Therefore, one who understands the importance of Krishna Consciousness must be a very fortunate soul. So I marked it in your person when I was in Boston, and I prayed to Krishna that this good soul may be aware of the importance of Krishna Consciousness. With my blessings I am sending herewith your beads, duly chanted upon by me. You should avoid the ten offenses as far as possible, and follow the four regulative principles as Satsvarupa will instruct you. I know your good Godbrother, Satsvarupa, will always help you in this connection.
Regarding the inquiry, "If there is God, how can there be suffering and disease," the similar question may be asked, "In the presence of an affectionate father, why should a child suffer from diseases?" God is the Supreme Father and He gives us the process for being relieved of our sufferings. But if one refuses to accept this gift of God, then he must suffer from the results of his activities. Anyone who is suffering or enjoying in this material world is doing so as a result of his own activities. Krishna says that if we surrender unto Him, He will relieve us of all sufferings, so if someone rejects this offer of Krishna and then says that there is no God because he is experiencing some suffering, that is not a very intelligent position. Krishna wants everyone to go back to Home, back to Godhead, and enjoy eternal life and blissful knowledge there. If your father agrees to this process, he also can be taken back to Home, back to Godhead, with my other disciples. There will be no difficulty for me. You can tell your father that. But if he does not agree, what responsibility is God's? Everyone has got his independence.
1975 Correspondence
Persons who think of God like himself has no knowledge of God. He immediately becomes a mudha, fool rascal. Avajananti mam mudha (BG 9.11) . . . God is omniscient and omnipotent. He knows everything what is going to happen. Therefore to save the living entity from future calamity He says, sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66). . . So although He knows what is going to happen in the future, He can cancel all that was going to happen by His Grace, that is God's omnipotency. For a devotee, the future destiny is changed as confirmed in the Brahma-samhita:
- yas tvindra-gopam athavendram aho sva-karma-
- bandhanurupa-phala-bhajanam atanoti
- karmapi nirdhahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam
- govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
- (Bs. 5.54)
"Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, Who regulated the sufferings and enjoyments of fruitive activity for everyone—from the heavenly King Indra down to the smallest insect (indra-gopa). That very Personality of Godhead destroys the fruitive karma of one engaged in devotional service."
| Page Title: | Enjoy or suffer (Letters) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti |
| Created: | 14 of Jul, 2012 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=4 |
| No. of Quotes: | 4 |