Answer by HH Hridayananda das Goswami
Q. Perhaps I may ask one question: we know Vaisnavas are oceans of mercy and compassion for the suffering jivas, so how can a devotee really be happy in the spiritual world knowing that there are countless living entities suffering horrendously in the stress planets? Spiritual amnesia, out of sight out of mind?
A. That is a thought provoking question. A pure devotee is one who knows that Krishna is everything. Although many pure devotees often are affected by Yoga Maya in seeing Krishna as their lover, friend, etc., ultimately there is an understanding among pure devotees that Krishna is the supreme controller and is doing everything. So the knowledge that Krishna is doing everything possible for the jivas who ultimately must exercise their own free will to go back to Godhead allows them to remain in the spiritual world. Otherwise, the spiritual world would be empty and everyone would be out doing missionary work. Of course we know that some devotees prefer to accompany Krishna in His missionary activities.
There is another point. Ultimately the essence of pure devotion is the pure desire to please Krishna. Krishna Himself makes perfect arrangements to save the fallen souls and assigns a sufficient number of devotees to preach. As I said, since everything depends upon the free will of the conditioned souls, there is, in a sense, a finite amount that can be done for them. Therefore those pure devotees whom Krishna wants to preach feel inspired to preach and will be happy in no other service. Those pure devotees whom Krishna wants to be with Him in the spiritual world can only find happiness in that service since that is Krishna’s pleasure. Krishna’s pleasure in retaining pure devotees in the spiritual world is never a selfish desire and never limits, impedes or reduces the practical preaching that goes on in the material world.
Hoping you are well
With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
Nicely put Maharaja. There is also another reason why they would not be disturbed, at least those devotees in Goloka that is. In Goloka in Krishna’s nitya lila the jiva souls are not aware that Krishna is God. They are not educated in Krishna consciousness. To them Krishna is one of them, sometimes there is the thought that Krishna may be an avatar of some sort, but Krishna uses his yogamaya potency to cause that thought to be forgotten.
Vaikuntha and Goloka are different. In Vaikuntha everyone relates with Lord Narayana in knowledge of the majesty and power of the Lord. In Goloka that is absent.
Another point to keep in the mind is that the pure devotee certainly has compassion for the suffering of the conditioned souls, but it is also understood that Krishna is making sure that everyone is getting what they need to be freed from their conditioned state. There will never be a time where a conditioned soul is lacking help due to devotees being engaged in Krishna lila. In fact Krishna needs no help from anyone to save the conditioned souls. When Lord Brahma stole away the cowhered boys from Krishna’s association, Krishna simply expanded himself into replicas of those same cowherd boys. Lord Brahma came to see how Krishna was reacting to the absence of the gopas, he was astonished to see them with Krishna as if nothing had changed. The pure souls may come down occasionally to engage in the sankirtan lila, but that is another type of ecstacy for them. They do not actually need to do the work to save the conditioned souls. Krishna is doing the work of maintaining every living entity and the entire cosmic manifestation in the material world as well as the spiritual world, he certainly is not lacking in the ability to take care of the conditioned souls on their progress back to godhead. Gaura Lila and Krishna Lila are two aspects of the highest realm of ecstacy. In Gaura Lila the ecstacy is found in the knowledge of Sri Krishna as Swayam Bhagavan, and in the distribution of Krishna bhakti in the association of the Sankirtan movement. In Krishna lila the ecstacy is in taking part in Sri Krishna’s pastimes while remaining unaware of the extent of Sri Krishna’s glories as the Lord.
From the Navadvipa-dhama Mahatmya of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Q. Perhaps I may ask one question: we know Vaisnavas are oceans of mercy and compassion for the suffering jivas, so how can a devotee really be happy in the spiritual world knowing that there are countless living entities suffering horrendously in the stress planets? Spiritual amnesia, out of sight out of mind?
A similar question that can be asked is that why Krishna let us suffer in this world. Why Krishna’s heart does not melt when He sees others suffering.
Suffering is result of our false identification with body. Sometimes, it is compared to dream. So, there is no substantiality to it. Also, soul is spiritual and is unaffected by material domain. So from the perspective of soul, there is no suffering just as there is no death for soul.
This questions arises because currently we cannot go beyond material domain. To truly understand the answer for this question, we need to understand and realize the spiritual domain. I hope this helps.
In the spiritual world, we only have eyes and thoughts for Krsna and it is not possible to even concieve of a material world. So where is the question of feeling compassion when we have no idea of what is going on in this material world.
If we had even the slightest feelings or idea of something other that Krsna, we would not be in the spiritual world – we will be in a material universe acting out our karma, whether it is feeling compassion through the mode of goodness and passion or being ignorant.