I am suffering from a diease from last 10 years almost. May i know how my problem can be resolved.

Transcript

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Yes.
Hare Krishna. Question from Ankit. I am suffering from a disease for the last 10 years.
May I know how my problem can be solved? Answer. As I have written in one of the Gita daily articles, if we let all that happens matter, then we don’t let all that matters happen. That means, that there are certain things which are in our control, and there are certain things which are not in our control.
So the nature of this world is, that sometimes, things which are undesirable, things which are unfortunate, they happen to us. And if we let our thoughts get caught up and obsessed in them, then we can’t even do the things which we could have done otherwise. So, in our life there are certain things which are unchangeable, certain things which are changeable, and certain things which are uncertain, whether they can be changed or they can’t be changed.
So generally speaking, our energy gets caught up in the things which are unchangeable, and we don’t work on things which we could have changed. So, for example, if somebody is born with a congenital disease, or somebody acquires an incurable disease, that is unchangeable, then there are many people who get this sort of institution, and that is unchangeable. And then what one needs to do is, just accept that, and then within the limits that are imposed, we still have some capacities, some abilities.
So we use those abilities, and serve Krishna accordingly. And by that way, we move forward on, we move onwards in our life. No situation actually, completely paralyzes or paralyzes us entirely, although certain ways of action may be impeded.
So there are, throughout history, stories like Helen Keller, who was far, far say, physically impaired, not being able to speak or write or, sorry, speak or see or even hear to some extent, and still that person was an author who wrote a lot. So certainly these are exceptions, but the exceptions indicate what is possible. So generally speaking, what we need to do always is, bring our thoughts back to what is possible for us.
What is changeable? What can I do? So, if we focus on what we can’t do, then that only makes us feel helpless and powerless. And that is a very harmful frame of mind to have. So, because that will choke us internally, and we will be making ourselves miserable, and we will be making people around us miserable.
On the other hand, if we focus on what we can do, then, gradually, by doing that, our confidence will increase, and we will discover that, yes, within this limited framework also, I am able to do certain things. And I can, by doing things within that limited framework, move on in my life. So now with respect to a disease that has been going on for 10 years, now that may be unchangeable, or that may be in the category of uncertain.
So, if it’s in the category of the uncertain, that maybe there is some cure somewhere, then we have to realistically evaluate our options. Do I go around, keep searching for some cure? Or do I get on with my life, with the limitations that I have? It is difficult to, or sometimes accept the limitations. And if there is a realistic possibility of a cure, then one can surely explore that.
But most times, the problem comes when we get sick, we almost seem to let our life come to a standstill till the disease gets cured. But we don’t have to do that. Even when there is a disease, we may not be able to do all the normal activities that we were doing, but just as the life goes on, similarly, we can also do activities, not just to pass our time, but we can find out ways within that limited framework by which we can grow.
We can maybe, this is a time for great inner growth, we can study spiritual literature, we can practice meditation, within whatever limitations we have because of the disease, and gain greater inner strength, inner mental and spiritual strength. And who knows, a new set of options may come for us, may open up through that for us. So the important point is not to focus on the negative, but focus on the positive.
So, for me, the whole option of internet outreach through writing daily articles and answering questions came up because of an accident. I had a physical handicap since childhood, and that was aggravated by an accident, and that reduced my mobility. So somehow, by Krishna’s mercy, I found out this way, and I am constructively engaged.
So, every one of us, if we pray to Krishna, Krishna will give us guidance of how within the limitations that are created by our circumstances, we can still find a way to move ahead. And whether the problematic situation is in the unchangeable or in the uncertain category, the important thing is that there are always things that can be changed. And the first thing that can be changed no matter what our situation is, our attitude.
So if you feel helpless, if you feel victimized, if you feel bad about situation, then that is something which we can change. And especially when we practice devotional service, if we are studying scriptures or chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, we should receive them just as rituals to be done so that our disease will go away. That is underutilization of the potential of these activities.
Yes, by devotional service, sometimes Krishna can act in miraculous ways and free us from the disease also. But that is a relatively small benefit. Actually, everybody is diseased in different ways.
We may have some limited kind of disease. There are so many people who are addicted. And because of their addiction, their freedom is so much limited.
They may be addicted to drugs or alcohol or whatever. And there are other people who are limited in other ways. Actually, lust, anger, greed, these anarthas limit everyone in different ways.
So, rather than focusing on ourselves and feeling sorry for ourselves, if we focus on Krishna and try to see within our situation, how can I continue to serve Krishna? How can I move ahead with my life? We will find that life doesn’t have to come to a standstill. We can keep moving forward and we can learn new things and grow in new ways during that situation. Who knows, by some unconceivable arrangement, that disease may even get cured.
Or we may find a cure. But irrespective of whether we find a cure or not, we can still move on and devote ourselves. I know a devotee who, because of some unexpected medical complexity, lost the eyes.
Now, it is one thing to be blind since birth. One is habituated to that and one learns to live with that. But if somebody loses the eyes after having had them for a decade or two, then it can be crippling.
But then that devotee is still going on with life. He’s got a good job. And he’s also not only practicing Krishnamoorthi enthusiastically, but he’s also preaching.
And within the limitation, that devotee goes from one place to another, travels also sometimes six, seven hours to a distant place, and gives classes. And other people are inspired by that. See, in spite of this limitation, this person is not just taking care of his own self, but is also caring for others by trying to share Krishna consciousness with others.
So, you know, when our thoughts are centered on ourselves, then we become like a black hole that swallows all our thoughts and doesn’t allow us to think of anything else, anything constructive, even for ourselves. So if we can find out something which we can work on, preferably some form of service to Krishna, something outside of ourselves, and start engaging ourselves in that, then gradually you’ll find that things are not so bad and that we get a purpose for living. And within our limited means, when we keep serving, gradually our confidence improves, our composure improves, and then we start moving on with life.
So to summarize, even if there are certain things which are unchangeable or which are uncertain whether they are changeable or not, there are always things that are changeable. And by the power of devotion, we can get our thoughts to focus on the changeable and center our life on that. Instead of letting our life stop till the disease gets cured, we find out within the limitation how we can go on with life.
And by using the knowledge of Krishna consciousness, knowing that Krishna is always there, and Krishna always loves us, as I have written in the Vangeeta Deji article, whatever karma may get us through, Krishna will get us through. So if we focus on trying to find a way forward, Krishna will show us a way forward, and this situation can be an opportunity for great inner growth and discovery of new aspects of our life which we would not have discovered otherwise in normal circumstances. So by this focus on the changeable, we can move forward in life, even amidst whatever difficulties we have.
Thank you.