Our Real Life 25

Generally, the people are just like animals. They simply do
not know anything beyond the necessities of the body: how to
eat, how to sleep, how to mate and how to defend. And the
Bhagavad-gita says, out of many thousands, someone may
develop this reasoning power: “Why am I suffering?” He asks
this question: “‘Why am I suffering?” We do not want to suffer,
but suffering is forced upon us. We do not want too much cold,
but too much cold and too much heat are forced upon us.

When there is some impetus to awaken this reasoning power,
it is called brahma-jijriasa. This is found in the Vedanta-sittra.
The first verse says that now, this human form of life is meant
for asking the question of how to solve the problem of suf-
fering.

So Krsna says that this special prerogative of the human
being is not awakened very easily, except by some good asso-
ciation. Just as we have this Krsna conscious association. If we
attain such association, where nice things are discussed, then
that awakening of reason, that special prerogative of the human
being, will come. As long as this question does not arise in one’s
mind, he should understand that whatever activities he is doing
will lead to his defeat. He is simply leading an animal life. But,
not when these questions arise: Why am I suffering? What am
1? Am I meant for suffering? Am I meant for troubles?

Iam undergoing troubles by nature’s laws, and by the state’s
laws. So the question of freedom is how to become free from
all these troubles. The Vedanta-siitra also says that the soul,
my actual self, is by nature joyful. Yet, I am suffering. Lord
Krsna further says that when these questions arise, gradually
one comes to God. Those who have awakened to these ques-
tions are said to be on the path of perfection. And, when the
question of God and our relationship with God comes, that is
our final perfection of life.

Now, Krsna says that out of many thousands of people,one
may try to make perfection of this life; and out of many
