Threefold Miseries
BY: MAYESVARA DASA
May 14, AUSTRALIA (SUN) —
"Being unable to protect himself from the threefold miseries of material existence, the conditioned soul becomes very morose and lives a life of lamentation. These threefold miseries are miseries suffered by mental calamity at the hands of the demigods [such as freezing wind and scorching heat], miseries offered by other living entities, and miseries arising from the mind and body themselves." - Srimad Bhagavatam Purana 5.14.25
Punishments are not pleasant but they can be helpful in correcting bad behavior. When someone is punished they have the opportunity to reflect on their situation and consider what has caused their misfortune. Bad weather can invoke the same type of introspection. The Vedic injunction is that man should be grateful for the gifts of the earth, perform his duty, give up his greed, and accept only his quota. Failing to do so not only causes unpleasant weather but other difficulties as well.
Here we learn that being subjected to an uncomfortable climate is just one of the three types of calamities that characterize this material world. Besides having to cope with the freezing wind, scorching heat, flood waters, mud, and possible falling trees, the conditioned living entity must also endure pain that comes from his own mind and body. Such misery can be minor like stubbing a toe, but it could also be so relentless that the one who is suffering may even wish to end his own life!
The third type of difficulty man must cope with is the distress that comes from other living entities. These miseries can be as exiguous as simple mosquito bites, or as severe as wounds sustained during a violent physical attack. Even those we love cause us suffering in the form of worry, public embarrassment, hurt feelings, harsh words, or emotional distress.
The threefold miseries of material existence are meant to give us an opportunity to reflect on our situation. The observant man will ask the question; Why? Why am I forced to accept all these suffering conditions. Regardless of how many adjustments we try to make we can't seem to escape the difficulties that are imposed on us. We get uncomfortable when the temperature is less than 60 degrees or greater than 75. We have difficulty tolerating even a little stone in our shoe. A dripping faucet will drive us crazy and a slightly disagreeable smell will drive us away. We can't even enjoy our evenings without being solicited for a newspaper subscription and the concerns we have about educating our children keep us awake at night. This is the nature of the material world. According to the Vedas it is not a pleasant place.
These material miseries are intended to remind us that we should get out and return to the spiritual world where real happiness exists eternally. Indeed, the wise man knows that the material world is not a place for a gentleman! Realizing this he accepts the Vedic literature to guide his search inward in order to find his way out.
