Freedom from the Urge to Enjoy or Suffer
While the material world forces the living entity to enjoy or suffer the results of their actions, the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness offers a way out. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the soul is transcendental to the material qualities. By engaging in bhakti-yoga, one works under the direction of the Supreme Lord, thereby incurring no karma. This freedom from reaction breaks the chain of birth and death, allowing the devotee to transcend the urge to enjoy or suffer material results.
Transcendental Activity
Action performed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa is different from ordinary work. Śrīla Prabhupāda distinguishes this as "transcendental activity." When a person acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are not entangled by the reactions. He explains that such a person is naturally free from the bonds of karma and does not have to accept a future material body to enjoy or suffer the effects.
- A person acting in Krsna consciousness is naturally free from the bonds of karma. His activities are all performed for Krsna; therefore he does not enjoy or suffer any of the effects of work.
- Yoga, when you are in contact with Krsna, that is the secret of success in this material world, working. Otherwise whatever you are doing, whatever you are working, it will produce some reaction and you will have to enjoy or suffer.
Changing Destiny
Ordinarily, destiny is fixed. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has the power to change the destiny of His surrendered devotee. By taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa, he explains that one is relieved from the sinful reactions that would otherwise necessitate suffering.
- Krsna says, "I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life." That is fate changed. If you don't surrender to Krsna, then you have to suffer or enjoy the actions of your fruitive activities.
- Krsna relieves me from all kinds of sinful activities, then where is my miserable condition of life? Miserable condition of life is for them who are enjoying or suffering.
Making the Choice
Every human being stands at a crossroads. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this choice clearly: one path leads to the continued cycle of birth and death—accepting one body after another to enjoy or suffer—while the other leads to eternal spiritual life. He urges us to stop the material way of existence, which is the beginning of true freedom.
- Association of material world means accepting one type of body and enjoy or suffer for some time; then you get another body. Now we have to make our choice, whether you want to stop this material way of life and attain the eternal spiritual life.
- If one understands the philosophy that as a living spirit soul he has an affinity for neither suffering nor enjoyment, then he is considered to be a liberated person.
Conclusion
The urge to enjoy material nature is the root cause of suffering. By understanding that the soul is a servant of Kṛṣṇa, one can step off the wheel of karma. In this liberated state, Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms that one neither seeks material enjoyment nor fears material suffering but remains satisfied in the service of the Lord.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Enjoy Or Suffer. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.