Why Do We Suffer?

The Wisdom of Srila Prabhupada: Lesson 4

Question:

If God exists and is all-loving, why do we experience suffering?

Answer:

Suffering arises when we forget our eternal relationship with Krishna and act independently of His will. Srila Prabhupada explained that suffering in the material world is a result of our misuse of free will and our entanglement in material desires.

Explanation:

The material world is described in the Bhagavad-gita (8.15) as “duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam,” a temporary place of misery. This suffering is not directly imposed by Krishna but is a consequence of our own actions (karma) and desires. Krishna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has mercifully created the law of karma to help us understand the results of our actions and ultimately wake up to our spiritual reality. This system is meant not only to guide us back to the path of self-realization but also to rectify our wrong actions as a merciful form of punishment. By experiencing the results of our deeds, we are given an opportunity to learn and awaken to our spiritual reality. When we choose to turn away from Krishna and pursue material enjoyment, we become entangled in the cycle of birth, death, old age, and disease. This cycle perpetuates suffering, as the soul remains bound by material nature.

Srila Prabhupada emphasized that Krishna does not desire our suffering. Rather, He provides guidance through the Vedic scriptures, His representatives, and the Paramatma (Supersoul) in our hearts to help us overcome it. Just as a compassionate father guides his child to avoid harmful actions, Krishna offers the Bhagavad-gita to show us the path back to Him. By following His instructions, we can transcend material suffering and experience true happiness.

Suffering also serves as a reminder that the material world is not our true home. Srila Prabhupada would often use the analogy of a fish out of water. Just as a fish cannot be happy outside its natural habitat, the soul cannot find real happiness in the material world. Only by returning to our spiritual nature and reconnecting with Krishna can we attain true satisfaction and end our suffering. Real happiness comes from reconnecting with Krishna through devotional service, which frees us from the cycle of karma and grants us eternal bliss in the spiritual world.

Suggested Reading:

If you’d like to understand this topic better, study Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 8.15, and its purport. This verse discusses the temporary nature of the material world and how devotion to Krishna liberates us from suffering.