The cause of our suffering

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(Below are some quotes relevant for persons angry at others who they feel

have wronged them.)

 

A pure devotee is never disturbed in any circumstances. Nor is he envious of

anyone. Nor does a devotee become his enemy's enemy; he thinks, "This person

is acting as my enemy due to my own past misdeeds. So it is better to suffer

than to protest." In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.8) it is stated: tat te

'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam. Whenever a devotee

is in distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is the

Lord's mercy upon him. He thinks, "Thanks to my past misdeeds I should

suffer far, far greater than I am suffering now. So it is by the mercy of

the Supreme Lord that I am not getting all the punishment I am due. I am

just getting a little, by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Therefore he is always calm, quiet and patient, despite many distressful

conditions.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 12.13, Bg 12.14, Bg 12.13-14

 

 

 

Once a certain sannyasi was insulted in many ways by impious men. However,

with determination he remembered that he was suffering the fruit of his own

previous karma. I will narrate to you his story and that which he spoke.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments as follows. "Often those

who give up the materialistic path and devote themselves to renunciation are

attacked by impious persons. This analysis, however, is superficial, since

the punishment is actually the cumulative result of one's past karma. Some

renunciants show lack of tolerance when presented with the remnants of their

previous sins and thus are forced to enter again onto the path of impious

life. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore instructs that one should become as

tolerant as a tree. If a neophyte on the path of devotional service to the

Lord's pure devotees is attacked by envious persons, he must accept it as a

consequence of his previous fruitive activities. One should be intelligent

and avoid future unhappiness by rejecting the ethic of an eye for an eye, a

tooth for a tooth. If one refuses to enter into enmity with envious men,

they will automatically leave him alone."

SB 11.23.6

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 11.23.6

 

(This whole chapter, The Song of the Avanti Brahmana, is relevant in this

regard. Below is another quote from it.)

 

No other force besides his own mental confusion makes the soul experience

happiness and distress. His perception of friends, neutral parties and

enemies and the whole material life he builds around this perception are

simply created out of ignorance.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 11.23.59