What is the Right way of facing the Punishments given by Krishna?
Don’t think that this is a simple question.
Many great facts are there in this matter.
Almost all of us are facing different types of problems in our life.
Problems thru relationships, diseases, job, money, etc.
(Why our problems continue even after initiation if guru accepts our karma? READ HERE!)
In fact, almost all the people are suffering in one way or the other.
Many devotees think: “Why Krishna is giving this much of punishments to me though I am worshiping Him for long?”
Some others think: “This Krishna seems to be very strict and stone hearted. He does not give favours easily. He finds pleasure in seeing His devotees suffer”.
Many switch to the worship of demigods to get temporary benefits without bothering about the side effects of the benefits given by the demigods.
Let it be.
What is the mindset of a matured devotee who has clearly understood Krishna while facing the punishments given by Krishna thru Karma?
(Do Only the Past life Problems make one a devotee? READ HERE!)
Here comes the right message that guides us with the right way of facing the Punishments given by Krishna thru Karma:
Srila Prabhupada says in Srimad Bhagavatham 8-22-4:
“Although a father, mother, brother or friend may sometimes punish one as a well-wisher, they never punish their subordinate like this. But because You are the most worshipable Lord, I regard the punishment You have given me as most exalted.”
Purport:
Punishment meted out by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is accepted by the devotee as the greatest mercy.
tat te ’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇo
bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam
hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk
“One who seeks Your compassion and thus tolerates all kinds of adverse conditions due to the karma of his past deeds, who engages always in Your devotional service with his mind, words and body, and who always offers obeisances to You is certainly a bona fide candidate for liberation.” (Bhāg. 10.14.8).
(Why we face double punishments in hell and next birth through karma? READ HERE!)
A devotee knows that so-called punishment by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only His favor to correct His devotee and bring him to the right path. Therefore the punishment awarded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be compared to even the greatest benefit awarded by one’s material father, mother, brother or friend.”
HOW TO FACE PROBLEMS GIVEN BY KRISHNA? SRILA PRABHUPADA’S ADVICE!
In Srimad Bhagavatham 1-8-25, Queen Kunti’s Prayers to Krishna go like this:
“I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.”
Srila Prabhupada explains:
How does a devotee receive dangers (Problems)?
There must be dangers because this material world is full of dangers. But foolish people who do not know this try to avoid the dangers. Thus they struggle for existence. Everyone is trying to become happy and avoid danger. This is our material business.
The material world is full of dangers. For example, if one is on the ocean one may have a very strong ship, but that ship can never be safe; because one is at sea, at any time there may be dangers. The Titanic was safe, but on its first voyage it sank, and many important men lost their lives. So danger there must be, because we are in a dangerous position. This material world itself is dangerous. Therefore, our business now should be to cross over this sea of danger as soon as possible. As long as we are at sea, we are in a dangerous position, however strong our ship may be. That’s a fact. But we should not be disturbed by the sea waves; instead, we should just try to cross over the sea and get to the other side. That should be our business.
As long as we are in this material world, there must be calamities because this is the place of calamity. But even with calamities our business should be to develop our Krishna consciousness, so that after giving up this body we may go back home, back to Krishna.
Are you clear now?
Punishments are not the negatives. They are the big blessings from Krishna. Without these punishments, we can’t go closer to Krishna.
So, welcome the punishments and problems in life. They purify us and make us eligible to go to Krishna.
This is the Right way of facing the Punishments given by Krishna.
(Can black tongue persons transfer their karma to others through Curse? READ HERE!)