Category:So-called Distress
Theme Analysis
The material world is a place of constant fluctuation, characterized by the endless cycle of pain and pleasure. Through his realized instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that what conditioned souls experience as so-called distress is merely a temporary bodily perception, akin to the shifting scenes in a dream. Rather than exhaustively trying to adjust these external conditions, an advanced devotee recognizes all hardships as the supreme mercy of the Lord. By tolerating these fleeting dualities and fixing the mind firmly on Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the sincere practitioner completely transcends the illusory realm of material suffering.
- The Illusion of Duality: The sensations of happiness and distress are temporary mental concoctions resulting directly from the soul's false identification with the material body.
- The Dreamlike Reality: Because the physical body belongs to the temporary realm of māyā, the pains and pleasures experienced within it are no more factual or permanent than a dream.
- Tolerating the Seasons: Just as winter and summer come and go automatically, worldly dualities appear due to past karma; a wise person simply tolerates them without agitation.
- Distress as Divine Mercy: An elevated Vaiṣṇava does not resent difficulties but rather accepts every so-called distress as a direct blessing and purifying gift from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The True Human Endeavor: Instead of wasting vital energy attempting to drive away distress or chase material happiness, one must utilize all their time to cultivate pure bhakti and seek eternal shelter.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: How a Pure Devotee Tolerates So-called Distress.
Pages in category "So-called Distress"
The following 36 pages are in this category, out of 36 total.
A
- Although qualitatively one with the Lord, the living being, due to contamination of the material world, is pervertedly manifested, he experiences so-called happiness and distress in the material world
- An advanced devotee does not distinguish between happiness and distress. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 10.14.8): When a devotee is in a condition of so-called distress, he considers it a gift or blessing from the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- As long as one acts on his own account, he is subject to all the material perceptions of so-called happiness and distress. Actually there is no happiness
- As long as the living entity is entangled in the fruitive activities of so-called happiness and distress, he will receive a particular type of body in which to endure the three kinds of suffering due to material nature - tri-tapa-yantrana
B
- Because the same mind and body exist in the same material world of duality when we are awake, the so-called happiness and distress of this world are no better than the false, superficial happiness of dreams
- Being unattached to the material world, He has no affection for so-called happiness or hatred for so-called distress. The two terms happiness and distress are relative. Since the Lord is always happy, for Him there is no question of distress
E
- Even in distressed condition, because Krsna has given me distress, so-called distress, it is not distress. So this is all right. - Because here, distress or happiness, they are simply mental concoction
- Even in our distressed condition we must know that we are being protected by Krsna. We should not be disturbed. Because we create so-called distress and happiness
- Everyone is trying to get out of material distress and gain some happiness. In any case, when something is material, there is only so-called happiness and so-called distress
- Everyone is trying to get out of the material distress & get some happiness, but anything material - happiness, so-called happiness, or so-called distress. just like here, the firework is going on. It is happiness for somebody, but it is distress for us
I
- If distress come automatically, then happiness also will come automatically. Why should you try for this so-called distress and happiness? You try for Krsna. This is life
- In the material world, in any form of life, there is some so-called happiness and so-called distress. No one invites distress in order to suffer, but still it comes
- It is fruitless to see and talk of the material modes of nature and their resultant so-called happiness and distress as if they were factual
- It is understood herewith that the kings born in the dynasty of Mithila were all liberated persons, unaffected by the so-called happiness and distress of this world
M
S
- Sastra 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 Krsna consciousness. Don't spoil your energy for so-called distress and happiness
- So long we are in the material world, the so-called happiness and distress will come and go, but our, the human life, the endeavor should be how to find out or revive our relationship with God. That is our main business
- Suffering and so-called suffering, distress, that will go on so long we have got this body. But we must come to the knowledge that "I am, I have got this body due to my past activities." That is knowledge. Karmana daiva-netrena
T
- The conclusion is that we should not endeavor for so-called happiness or distress, but should try to attain that position whereby we can understand Krsna and get shelter at His lotus feet. This should be the real human endeavor
- The distinctions between happiness and distress in the material world of duality are simply mental concoctions, for the so-called happiness and distress are actually one and the same. They are like the happiness and distress in dreams
- The liberated person, being above the influence of the three modes of material nature, is unaffected by such dualities in all circumstances. He remains Krsna conscious by tolerating so-called happiness and distress
- The self-realized soul is never disturbed by so-called distress or happiness, and this is especially true of an exalted devotee like Vasudeva, who showed this by his practical example
- There are difficulties arising from so-called happiness, distress, attachment, hate, fear, false prestige, illusion, madness, lamentation, bewilderment, greed, envy, enmity, insult, hunger, thirst, tribulation, disease, birth, old age and death
- They know that these (so-called happiness and distress) are like changing seasons, which are perceivable by contact with the material body
- This world is full of ditches of so-called distress and happiness, & there are many ferocious animals always ready to attack. The fire of lamentation is always blazing, & the mirage of false happiness is always alluring, but one has no shelter from them
- Those who are liberated, being on the transcendental platform of rendering service to the Lord, do not care about so-called happiness and distress
W
- We are destined to suffer a certain extent of so-called happiness and certain extent of so-called distress. - The distress is also so-called, and the happiness is also so-called
- We have to purify the consciousness. Then we shall be without any touch of this so-called distress and happiness
- We should not be disturbed by the so-called distress and happiness. They are coming and going. Krsna has advised in the Bhagavad-gita, agamapayino 'nityas tams titiksasva bharata