"In this material world someone is enjoying and someone is not enjoying, but actually everyone is suffering, although some people think that they are enjoying, whereas others realize that they are suffering. Actually everyone is suffering.
Who in this material world does not suffer disease?
Who does not suffer from old age?
Who does not die?
No one wants to grow old or suffer from disease, but everyone must do so. Where then is the enjoyment?
This enjoyment is all nonsense because within this material world there is no enjoyment. It is simply our imagination. One should not think, "This is enjoyment, and this is suffering." Everything is suffering! Therefore, it is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta, The principles of eating, sleeping, mating and defending will always exist, but they will exist in different standards.
For example, the Americans have taken birth in America as a result of pious activities performed in previ
ous lifetimes. In India the people are poverty-stricken and are suffering, but although the Americans are eating very nicely buttered bread and the Indians are eating without butter, they are both eating nevertheless. The fact that India is poverty-stricken has not caused the whole population to die for want of food.
The four principal bodily demands--eating, sleeping, mating and defending--can be satisfied under any circumstances, whether one is born in an impious condition or in a pious condition. The problem, however, is how to become free from the four principles of birth, death, old age and disease.
Who in this material world does not suffer disease?
Who does not suffer from old age?
Who does not die?
No one wants to grow old or suffer from disease, but everyone must do so. Where then is the enjoyment?
This enjoyment is all nonsense because within this material world there is no enjoyment. It is simply our imagination. One should not think, "This is enjoyment, and this is suffering." Everything is suffering! Therefore, it is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta, The principles of eating, sleeping, mating and defending will always exist, but they will exist in different standards.
For example, the Americans have taken birth in America as a result of pious activities performed in previ
ous lifetimes. In India the people are poverty-stricken and are suffering, but although the Americans are eating very nicely buttered bread and the Indians are eating without butter, they are both eating nevertheless. The fact that India is poverty-stricken has not caused the whole population to die for want of food.The four principal bodily demands--eating, sleeping, mating and defending--can be satisfied under any circumstances, whether one is born in an impious condition or in a pious condition. The problem, however, is how to become free from the four principles of birth, death, old age and disease.
Excerpt from the book "Easy Journey to other planets" by ACBSP
