Krishna Katha - Verse for meditation - 5/6/2014 - 7/6/2014 - How should we take suffering in life?

The conclusion is, therefore, that the supreme will is the ultimate judgment; no one can argue upon this. A pure devotee therefore submits in all circumstances to the supreme will of the Lord, accepting it as all-auspicious.

 

tat te 'nukampam susamiksamano

bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam

hrd-vag-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te

jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak

(SB. 10. 14.8)

 

The purport of this verse is that when a devotee is in a calamitous condition he takes it as a benediction of the Supreme Lord and takes responsibility himself for his past misdeeds. In such a condition, he offers still more devotional service and is not disturbed. One who lives in such a disposition of mind, engaged in devotional service, is the most eligible candidate for promotion to the spiritual world. In other words, such a devotee's claim for promotion to the spiritual world is assured in all circumstances.

 

The above verse was spoken by Lord Brahma.

 

How should we take suffering in life ?
 
Not that because one is Krishna conscious there will be no material suffering.Actually, those who are Krishna conscious, they have no material suffering. Although it appears that they are suffering, they are not suffering. They can accept any so-called suffering and accept it as mercy of Krishna. They never take it as suffering. Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam'. A devotee, when he is in suffering, so-called suffering, he accepts it as the mercy of Krishna. Tat te 'nukampam'. And he rather thanks Krishna, that "I had to suffer many more times, but You have minimized it, giving me little suffering. So it is Your mercy." And if anyone lives on that attitude, everything taken as Krishna's mercy, then he is guaranteed to go back home, back to Godhead.
 
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada  Founder-Acharya : ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) In his lecture on Srimad Bhagavatham, 1.7.15 Vrindavana, 13th September, 1976 
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Glories of Bali Mahraja's Forbearance

Bali Maharaja passed the severe test put before him by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is further proof of the Lord's mercy toward His devotee. The Supreme Personality of Godhead sometimes puts a devotee to severe tests that are almost unbearable. One could hardly even live under the conditions forced upon Bali Maharaja. That Bali Maharaja endured all these severe tests and austerities is the mercy of the Supreme Lord. The Lord certainly appreciates the devotee's forbearance, and it is recorded for the future glorification of the devotee. This was not an ordinary test. As described in this verse, hardly anyone could survive such a test, but for the future glorification of Bali Maharaja, one of the mahajanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only tested him but also gave him the strength to tolerate such adversity. The Lord is so kind to His devotee that when severely testing him the Lord gives him the necessary strength to be tolerant and continue to remain a glorious devotee.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 8.22.29, SB 8.22.30, SB 8.22.29-30