The Undisturbed Devotees of Lord Krishna

(written on August 28, 2019)

Devotees are not disturbed by all kinds of material reactions because they understand that their actual position is that they are part and parcel of Krishna and that they are somehow in this material world. Knowing this, they avoid the interaction with the material nature as much as possible. Srila Prabhupada explains that situation of a person in the material nature as “awkward.” He says, “The knower of the Absolute Truth is convinced of his awkward position in material association. He knows that he is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and that his position should not be in the material creation. He knows his real identity as part and parcel of the Supreme, who is eternal bliss and knowledge, and he realizes that somehow or other he is entrapped in the material conception of life.” Since the devotee is still in the material nature, however, he/she dovetails all activities with Krishna consciousness. In this way, they turn matter into spirit, and all interactions they have with the material nature are actually spiritual. The devotees are equipoised in happiness and distress. Srila Prabhupada explains in BG 12.13-14, “He does not identify with the body; therefore he is freed from the conception of false ego and is equipoised in happiness and distress. He is tolerant, and he is satisfied with whatever comes by the grace of the Supreme Lord.” The devotees actually think of suffering as the mercy of the Lord, as explained in SB 10.14.8. Like this, devotees are able to stay equipoised and they are never disturbed by material reactions.