Distress and happiness, they're already destined, according to our body. We have discussed this point. Take, for example, you American boys and girls: you have got a body by your previous activities. So your standard of living is better than other country. So actually, I see that even if you go outside your country, your standard of living is maintained. Because you have got already the body. Deha-yogena dehinām. Just like a hog. A hog, if he changes his country or position, if he's taken to heavenly planet, then what he will be? He will try to find out, "Where is stool?" Because the body is hog's body. Similarly, a Indian, because he has got Indian body, even if he goes to America, he'll try for spiritual upliftment. That is the nature. A tiger, if you take the civilized human society, he'll try to hunt.
So they do not understand that by superior management every living entity has been offered a different type of body for material distress and happiness. Everyone. It is not possible to change. Therefore, if we are intelligent enough, we should know that "My distress and happiness in this material world is already fixed up because I have got a particular type of body. Then when it is fixed up, then why . . . why I shall waste my time for so-called distress and happiness, when it is fixed up?"
Just like you are running in a train. You have already purchased a ticket for third class. Then how you can run on the first class? That is not possible. If you want to run on the first-class compartment, you must purchase a ticket. Similarly, we have already purchased a ticket according to our body. Therefore śāstra says that don't bother about this so-called distress and happiness. They are already fixed up. If you have got some energy, please utilize it how to develop in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Don't spoil your energy for so-called distress and happiness. That is mistake.
But the modern civilization is so foolish, they are simply trying for bodily distress and happiness and spoiling the energy which he could utilize for understanding God. This is the defect of modern civilization. Actually, foolish civilization. They do not know what is the value of life, how we can realize our ultimate goal of life, what is this body, what is God. There is no education. There is no enlightenment. Simply just like animals. The animals, I mean to say, trying; animal also trying to become comfortable. But it is not possible. Because he's animal, he cannot be as comfortable as a human being. That is not possible. It is destined.
So everyone is destined and fixed up, his comfortable life. Tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovidaḥ. Therefore one who is intelligent, he should simply spend his energy how to develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is intelligence.