Hare Krsna,
Janma-mrtyu jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam (BG 13.9). The body is subject to its own principles of birth, death, old age and disease, but one who is situated in spiritual life (yato bhaktir adhoksaje) has no birth, no death, no old age and no disease. Whenever we explain to a layman these four defects of human life – birth, death, old age and disease – most of them agree that death, old age and disease are understandable defects of human body. But why is birth considered a defect? Isn’t birth a beautiful thing that brings life, joy, and happiness to this world and to the family? We usually do not associate misery with birth. Yes, the process of giving birth is a painful experience to the mother but that same experience is a matter of joy to her. But if one reads this chapter and how Lord Kaplideva is giving a graphic description of the suffering of a child in the womb of the mother, all the pre-conceived notions about birth not being a defect will go out of the window. How painful it is for the child to stay in a fixed position in the mother’s womb, being bitten by worms and germs, being fed pungent food, being in great pain always, not being able to communicate to anyone what he is going through, and desperately waiting for some kind of relief! It seems the baby is somewhat conscious all the while and is aware of his suffering. That is the benediction of māyā, who endows the suffering body with the qualifications for tolerating such terrible tortures. (SB 3.31.7 P). And this is the working of praksepatmika potency of maya – throwing the living entity into material darkness with a material body. Miserable life begins from the moment the living entity begins to contact his material body. (SB 3.31.6 P). And then avaranatmika makes the living entity forget this experience of painful birth as soon as he comes out.
“One has to transmigrate from one body to another, and the transmigration into the bodies of dogs and hogs is especially miserable. But despite such miserable conditions, due to the spell of māyā we forget everything and become enamored by the present so-called happiness, which is described as actually no more than a counteraction to distress.” (SB 3.31.6 P). This is the work of avaranatmika.
In the Zoom review session today, I shared my realization that I too have gone through the hellish experience at some point in my previous lifetimes. I too have gone through the painful existence in the womb of a mother (be it in human body or animal body) life after life. Of course due to avaranatmika, I do not remember any of it and continue to live with a false illusory hope that this material world can also give me happiness (even though it is not designed to be so).
“Unfortunately, we forget all these sufferings and try to be happy in this life, not caring for the liberation of the soul from the entanglement of birth and death. It is an unfortunate civilization in which these matters are not plainly discussed to make people understand the precarious condition of material existence.” (SB 3.31.8 P) Thanks to Srila Prabhupada, we are aware of our precarious condition of our births and material existence.
I liked what Mother Samapriya said in the session yesterday. She said ‘urgent devotional service’. It really caught my attention. Just performing mundane devotional service is not enough. We have to perform ‘urgent’ and ‘desperate’ devotional service with a sincere mood of repentance (for committing so many sins life after life), gratitude (that we have been given this human body to practice devotional service and get out of the repeated cycle of birth and death), forgiveness (seeking forgiveness from the Lord for our sins and mistakes), and urgency (that I no longer want to suffer in this human body). Enough is enough! If after hearing all these graphic descriptions of painful life in the womb and punishments in hell do not wake us up from our illusory slumber in the lap of maya with her praksepatmika and avaranatmika potency , I am not sure what else will!
Thanks to Srila Prabhupada, Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya. We have the Vedic knowledge in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam that is trying to remove us from darkness of ignorance. I love what Srila Prabhupada wrote in this purport. He hit the nail of the head.
“After birth the child may forget about the difficulties of his past lives, but when we are grown-up we can at least understand the grievous tortures undergone at birth and death by reading the authorized scriptures like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If we do not believe in the scriptures, that is a different question, but if we have faith in the authority of such descriptions, then we must prepare for our freedom in the next life; that is possible in this human form of life. One who does not take heed of these indications of suffering in human existence is said to be undoubtedly committing suicide. It is said that this human form of life is the only means for crossing over the nescience of māyā, or material existence. We have a very efficient boat in this human form of body, and there is a very expert captain, the spiritual master; the scriptural injunctions are like favorable winds. If we do not cross over the ocean of the nescience of material existence in spite of all these facilities, then certainly we are all intentionally committing suicide.” (SB 3.31.9 P)
Just as a child prays in the womb to the Lord for relief and deliverance, may I pray to the Lord, while out of the womb now, that I practice devotional service with utmost sincerity and promise that I will never again commit sinful activities and have to be put into the womb for repeated birth and death. May I surrender fully to my spiritual master, to Srila Prabhupada and to Lord Krsna. Only they can save us.
“As the Supreme Lord puts the living entity into the condition of horrible existence, He can also deliver him, and therefore one should seek shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa demands, “Give up everything and surrender unto Me.” And it is also said in Bhagavad-gītā that anyone who approaches Him does not come back again to accept a form in material existence, but goes back to Godhead, back home, never to return.” (SB 3.31.12 P)
May I always remember that constitutionally, I am the subordinate servitor of the Supreme Soul and may I not try to become one with the Lord and lord it over material nature. This is the root cause of my material existence and hellish sufferings.
“The entire process of devotional service is to purify oneself of this contamination of material nature and put oneself on the spiritual platform, where he is qualitatively one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Vedas it is said that the living entity is always free. Asaṅgo hy ayaṁ puruṣaḥ. The living entity is liberated. His material contamination is temporary, and his actual position is that he is liberated. This liberation is achieved by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which begins from the point of surrender. Therefore, it is said here, “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Person.” (SB 3.31.14 P)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 