Question: How can I understand the Adidaivik Klesha (problems arising from mind) which put me in difficulties as a plan of Lord? Am I stuck with my past?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Adhyatmika Klesa means miseries caused by one’s body and mind. In this material world all three kinds of miseries exist by default. One who is Krsna conscious understands this and at the same time understands that it is due to one’s past karma that one suffers in this life. We alone are the architects of our misfortune and suffering. See BG 13.22 The sense of suffering is in the mind. On the soul level, true suffering is separation from Krishna. Because of separation from Krishna, I am not feeling happiness. I am missing that happiness. That is suffering. A Krsna conscious person understands that it is the mind that is the greatest cause of my suffering not Krsna. This is elaborately explained in SB 5.6.2-5 We have to understand that it is not the plan of the Lord to make us suffer through Adhyatmika klesa. Krsna never wishes anything bad for the jivas. Rather He has created this material world so that the living entities can become reformed and desire to go back to their original home, which is the spiritual world. Our present suffering is due to past sinful reactions from this or previous lives. Ultimately, our suffering will continue as long as we continue in this cycle of repeated birth and death. Therefore, it is very important for us to carefully cultivate our dormant spirit of unalloyed devotion for Krishna. The most effective means for this is to daily and regularly chant the Holy Name of the Lord (The Hare Krsna Maha mantra), read Srila Prabhupada’s books regularly, associate and serve the devotees of Lord Krsna.
