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.

Reducing Suffering

Three kinds of miseries

mad-ashrayah katha mrishtah
shrinvanti kathayanti cha
tapanti vividhas tapa
naitan mad-gata-chetasah

"Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sadhus do not suffer from material miseries because they are always filled with thoughts of My pastimes and activities." [SB 3.25.23]

Generally, people, they are suffering. There is nobody in the world, those who are materially engaged, can say boldly that "I am not suffering." Is there anybody? I challenge anyone. Can anyone say that "I am not suffering"? So everyone must be suffering. Now, why these Anacin tablets are advertised, "pain killer"? Because they are suffering. And not in this country, but in the Western countries, America, one takes at least one dozen tablets daily for mitigating suffering—tranquilizer, this, that, so many. They are advertised, and they take. At least, for sleeping. Because they are more advanced. We are less advanced; therefore we are satisfied only one tablet, Anacin. [laughter] But they are not satisfied with one tablet. They have dozens of tablets. I have seen it. It is advertised in the subway trains. So many tablets are advertised. Suffering must be there. Anyone who has got this material body has accepted suffering. That's a fact. But foolish people, they cannot understand. He thinks, "I have got very fatty and beautiful body." He is satisfied. The dog is also satisfied. He does not know that this dog's body is greater suffering than human body. The hog's body is greater suffering than the human body. But everyone is thinking, "I am happy." This is called maya, illusion. You go to a hospital, a man is lying down on the bed, and if you ask, "How are you?" "Yes, I am well today." What is "well"?

So there cannot be anyone without suffering. That is not possible. There are three kinds of suffering: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. Adhyatmika means pertaining to the body and mind. "I have got headache today. I have got some pain here in the back. My mind is not very much settled up today. I cannot talk with you." These kinds of suffering are called adhyatmika, pertaining to the body and the mind. And there are sufferings called adhibhautika. Just like at night, unnecessarily, the dogs bark, and we cannot sleep. This is called adhibhautika, suffering imposed by other living entities—the mosquitos, the bugs. Then enemies. Suffering. Just like some of our enemies, they are hindering sanctioning this temple. So this is called adhibhautika. And besides that, big, big sufferings there are: adhidaivika, accident, which you have no control over. No sufferings you have control. That is not possible. There is famine; there is pestilence; there is no rain; there is excessive heat, excessive cold. They are called adhidaivika. Earthquake... so many.

So this is the reminder, that "You rascal, you are thinking you are very happy in this material world. What you have done about these sufferings?" Mudhas [fools], they think, "Oh, this is all right. It doesn't matter." Besides that, there are very grave sufferings, that is, birth, death, old age, and disease. So where is your happiness? But because we are under the spell of maya, we are thinking, "This position is very nice. Let us enjoy life." This is their enjoyment.

Suffering on account of bodily concept of life

Those who are Krishna conscious, they... We cannot say that they are not suffering. They are suffering, but not so acutely. They know. This is the sadhu's symptom: titikshavah, tolerant. Everyone is tolerant. One has to tolerate. But a sadhu's toleration and ordinary man's toleration is different. Sadhu's toleration is not so acute because a sadhu knows that he is not this body. If we understand properly that "I am not this body," then, although there is suffering, you will not feel very much. We are now absorbed with this body; therefore, bodily sufferings are there. Just like the example that you have got a car, and there is some accident. So one who is too much absorbed with the thought that "This is my car" or "I am car," he suffers more. But if one knows, "I am not this car. All right, there is some accident; it can be repaired or it can be replaced," that doesn't matter. It is a question of absorption of the thought. The materialistic person, because he is like animal, he suffers more. And for the devotees, as it is advised in the Bhagavad-gita,

matra-sparshas tu kaunteya
shitoshna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayino 'nityas
tams titikshasva bharata [Bg. 2.14]

Krishna says to Arjuna that "These material sufferings are just like the sufferings of season, seasonal suffering." In summer season we suffer, and in winter season also, we suffer. Shitoshna-sukha-duhkha-dah. And the same thing, this fire, in summer season it is suffering. The heat is suffering. And in the winter season cold water 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-sparshah: 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 [you identify yourself as] "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. According to Ayurvedic system, they are called tri-dhatu. So this body is made of material elements: kapha, pitta, vayu.

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradishu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhichij
janeshv abhijñeshu sa eva go-kharah

"One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air, who assumes his wife and family are permanently his own, who thinks an earthen image or the land of his birth is worshipable, or who sees a place of pilgrimage as merely the water there, but who never identifies himself with, feels kinship with, worships or even visits those who are wise in spiritual truth—such a person is no better than a cow or an ass." [SB 10.84.13]

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 Krishna consciousness, then he will not suffer. He 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 Krishna," 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.

Mind over matter

So those who are Krishna conscious, Krishna conscious means, here it is said, mad-gata-chetasah. Naitan mad-gata-chetasah. Mad-gata. Bhagavan says, "Those who are always thinking of Me in the mind, within the heart, they are not suffering." They are not suffering in this way because they know that "Even if I am suffering, it is Krishna's desire." So they welcome. Just like Kunti. When Krishna was departing, taking farewell from Queem Kunti, Kunti said, "My dear Krishna, 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 Krishna very constantly. Tat te 'nukampam su-samikshamano bhuñjana evatma-kritam vipakam [SB 10.14.8: "My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim."]. 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 Krishna's grace. So it doesn't matter." After all, it is everything in the mind, suffering and enjoying. A devotee's mind is trained up in Krishna consciousness; therefore, he does not care for suffering. That is the difference between a devotee and nondevotee.

Therefore it is said, tapanti vividhas tapa na etan mad-gata-chetasah. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. So how much suffering he had to undergo, the five-year-old boy, and his father was putting him in danger, sometimes under the feet, or leg of the elephant, sometimes throwing from the mountain, sometimes on burning oil, sometimes amongst the snakes, so many ways. But he was silent. Or Haridasa Thakur. Haridasa Thakur was a Muhammadan by birth. So he became a very good devotee and always chanting Hare Krishna. That was his fault. So the Muslim Kazi called him, "You are Muhammadan. You born in a such great family, Muhammadan family, and you are chanting Hindu's Hare Krishna 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 bazaars. That means he was to be killed by caning. So it is understood, when he was beaten by the cane, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was on his back. So he did not feel any suffering. There are many instances. A devotee had to suffer many sufferings, but he did not take it very much severely. He tolerated. And a devotee is educated to tolerate.

Therefore, in the sadhu's symptoms, beginning with titikshavah karunikah [SB 3.25.21: "tolerant and compassionate"], a devotee suffers; at the same time, he is very kind to these conditioned souls, [considering] how to elevate them, how to make them Krishna conscious. This is karunikah. These are the very primary features of a devotee's life. People put him into suffering in so many ways, but he does not give up his job. His job is to spread Krishna consciousness so that others may become happy. Just like Prahlada Maharaja said, "My Lord, I have no suffering. I have no suffering because I know the art how to become happy." Tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrita-magna-chittah [SB 7.9.43]. The same thing is described here: shrinvanti kathayanti. So Prahlada Maharaja said, "I know how to become happy." How to become happy? "Simply hearing about You and chanting about You, that's all." Shrinvanti kathayanti. Just like here two businesses are going on: you are hearing, and I am speaking. This is bhajana [worship]. You simply hear about the Lord, and you talk about the Lord. That is bhajana. Shravanam [hearing] means you can further make progress. Shravanam kirtanam vishnoh. Shravanam kirtanam [hearing and speaking] is going on all over the world. Someone is hearing about some politician, another is speaking about some politician or some other man, some important man in the society. Shravanam kirtanam is going on. But they are suffering. But when the shravanam kirtanam is pertaining to Vishnu (shravanam kirtanam vishnoh) then you will not be suffering. It requires experience. It requires advancement.

Then Prahlada Maharaja says, tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrita-magna-chittah: "Because my mind is always absorbed in talking about You and hearing about You, therefore I am not unhappy. I know how to become happy."

"But you seem to be very unhappy."

So he says, "Yes, I am unhappy because I see these foolish people, simply for temporary so-called happiness, they are engaged in material activities. I am thinking of them only. That is my unhappiness. Otherwise I have no unhappiness."

So this devotional service, this line of action, is so nice that if we practice, if we make advance, then even in this material world there will be no more suffering. That is called jivan mukta. Jivan mukta means although he is in this body, he is not suffering the bodily miserable condition. It is a question of absorption of thought. I have read in some paper that Mr. Stalin, the communist leader, he had to undergo a surgical operation of operating on the belly. The doctor wanted to use—what is called?—chloroform, but he said, "No, there is no need. You can go on with your operation." So even in ordinary life it is possible. Because the mind is absorbed in a different way, even a surgical operation does not disturb a man. Similarly, what to speak of spiritual life, if your mind is always absorbed in Krishna thought, Krishna consciousness, always thinking of Krishna. And Krishna advises also. What is His advice? Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru: [Bhagavad-gita 18.65] "You always think of Me."

There are many instances. I will tell you the story of one very big man, the Marquis of Zetland. The Marquis of Zetland was talking with one of my Godbrother. The Lord—He was called Lord—he asked, "Can you make me brahmana?" So my Godbrother said, "Yes, it is not very difficult. If you give up these bad habits—intoxication, illicit sex life, meat-eating, and gambling—you can become a brahmana." So he said, "It is impossible." Yes. A very big man, he said, "It is impossible. This is our life." Actually, we have got experience in the Western countries, this is their life. Even very, very old men, they cannot give up this. For want of this, it is a great suffering. But here you see practically. These young boys, young girls, they have given up. There is no suffering. Take practical example. And an old man, a very respectable gentleman, he was requested to give up these four habits; he replied, "It is impossible." How it is becoming possible for these boys? If they would have suffered for want of this illicit sex, intoxication, the boys or girls, then how they could remain with me? I am not a very rich man. I cannot give them nice shelter. I cannot give them nice food. But why? Because they are not feeling... They have no furniture. They are lying down on the floor, no bedding, no proper cloth. Because they are not suffering actually. Otherwise they could not remain with me. This is a fact. If they would have suffered, then, like Lord Zetland, they would have also said, "It is impossible to remain with Prabhupada." But they are not saying that. There is suffering from disease also; still, they are not leaving. They are not leaving. So Krishna consciousness is so nice, they do not feel any suffering. It is practical. Others, they feel suffering.

Absorb the mind in hearing and speaking about Krishna

Therefore we should accept this. What is that? Mad-ashrayah kathah. Katha, krishna-katha [hearing and discussings topics related to Krishna]. There are so many literatures, especially Bhagavad-gita. That is open to everyone. Everyone knows Bhagavad-gita. So if we simply hear Bhagavad-gita, we can attain this stage of perfection, no more suffering. That is a fact. Just like Ambarish Maharaja. He was a very responsible king, emperor of this world, and he was administering his kingdom. At the same time, he was a great devotee. These are the examples in this country. There were many kings like that; they are called rajarshi. Although they were king, rajah, still, they were as good as the great saintly person, rishi. So Maharaja Ambarish, he was also a rajarshi. He gave example: although he was busy in his administration work, still, he was talking only of Krishna, only. Sa vai manah krishna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18: "Maharaja Ambarish always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Krishna, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord's temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Krishna or about Krishna."]. Whenever he would talk, he would talk about Krishna. This required practice. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu advised all His devotees, gramya-katha na kahibe [don't waste time talking of mundane topics]. This is called advancement. Don't talk nonsense, these material talks. What is the use? What you will gain? Just like you open the newspaper. What do you find? The same thing. The same plane crash, the same politician condemning another politician, and something lost, something gained, something... It is punah punash charvita-charvananam [SB 7.5.30: "repeatedly chewing that which has been chewed"]. The same things are being repeated in different way. So what is the use of talking such things? Better, if you want to talk, talk on Krishna, talk on Bhagavad-gita, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and enjoy life. That is required. That is recommended here: mad-ashrayah katha mrishtah shrinvanti kathayanti cha. If you simply talk about Krishna and hear about Krishna, then that stage will come when there will be no more suffering always. Anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). This is called anandamaya in the Vedanta-sutra. A living entity, or Krishna, they are anandamaya. Prachurye maya-pratyaya. Simply ananda [blissful]. When you are in pleasure, transcendental bliss, there will be no more possibility of this material suffering. That is instructed here:

mad-ashrayah katha mrishtah
shrinvanti kathayanti cha
tapanti vividhas tapa
naitan mad-gata-chetasah

There is also another statement in the Bhagavad-gita: yoginam api sarvesham mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg. 6.47]. There are many yogis, but that yogi who is thinking of Krishna always, [Krishna says:] "In My opinion that is... He is the first-class yogi." Not to show any magic. Magic, that is magic, that if he does not suffer from any suffering, that is the greatest magic. But that will be done by a devotee. And Krishna also recommends. So this Krishna consciousness movement is being spread only for this purpose. What is this? Shrinvanti kathayanti cha, mad-ashrayah katha mrishtah ["Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead."]. When we shall feel pleasure by hearing about Krishna or talking about Krishna, we must know that we are making progress on the path of perfection. And at that time any kind of this material suffering will not be felt. This is the practical effect of executing devotional service.