Srila Prabhupada: Disaster Is part of the Material World

A devotee of the Lord having complete faith that the Lord is in control ... will have absolutely no fear of any outcome in this material world. His destination is secured but we should have compassion of the suffering of others and continue on with our progress of spirituality whether we are apparently suffering ourselves or not. The following are some beautiful Srila Prabhupada quotes to help us stay on a fixed platform of realization as we continue with this temporary life here

In Today's world of 'Pandemic' everyone is 'hoping against hope'. What Are HDGSP Thoughts About This Phrase???--

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"We don't want anything from anyone. We don't want any political independence, social reformation or humanitarian benefit. Nothing. We simply request people, 'Please chant Hare Krishna and come with us.' That's all. We don't expect anything from anybody else. 

"This is our mission. Radha-Krishna bolo sange chalo. You chant… Also we are chanting on the street, Hare Krishna. You also join with us. Radha-Krishna bolo. And so long we go, you come with us. Ei matra bhikha cai. We don't want anything more. This is, this is not a business, that you have come on the street to chant and to make some business. No. That is for your benefit."

(Srila Prabhupada, Lecture -- London, May 24, 1973)

This world of maya is called durasraya, which means "false or bad shelter." One who puts his faith in durasraya becomes a candidate for hoping against hope. In the material world everyone is trying to become happy, and although their material attempts are baffled in every way, due to their nescience they cannot understand their mistakes. People try to rectify one mistake by making another mistake. This is the way of the struggle for existence in the material world. If one in this condition is advised to take to Krsna consciousness and be happy, he does not accept such instructions.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => NoI: verse 7

In the material world, people are always hoping for something. They hope against hope, yet their hopes will never be fulfilled.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => TLK Vs 22

Prabhupada: Helplessness is always there, because the threefold miseries will always exist in material life. There will always be miseries arising from the body and mind, miseries inflicted by other living entities, and natural catastrophes. In addition, there is always birth, old age, disease, and death. It is only a fool or a rascal who hopes against hope and makes plans to overcome all these difficulties. However we may plan, nature is so strong that it will smash our plans to pieces with the kick of death. Man hopes against hope to adjust material things so that he can be happy in this world, but this is foolishness. Man is helpless at every step.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sigmund Freud [1856-1934]

"They have lost the view of their self-interest. Why? They have got a false idea of becoming happy in this material world. They cannot be happy, but still they are hoping, hoping against hope

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.1 -- June 30, 1970, Los Angeles

Mind is very crippled. Therefore they are hoping against hope. They will not live here. Still, they are decorating, decorating the dead body: "This is my apartment, this is my house, this is my country, this is my skyscraper building." Painting. And one day, mrtyuh sarva... Just like Hiranyakasipu: he's challenging, challenging, "Where is your God?" "Ah, here is God! Come on!" Finished. Finished. "Here is God."

So God will appear. Don't forget that you will be godless. You will see God -- death -- and at that time, after seeing, you will be finished, no more understanding. When you will be taken away, everything, all your possession, all your scientific knowledge, bank balance, skyscraper, everything will be taken away, then you will understand what is God,

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.21 -- December 1, 1973, Los Angeles

Prabhupäda: Hope against hope is which is never fulfilled. "This plan has failed. Now let me this, make this plan." And then again fail? "All right, let me this." This is hope against hope. He's thinking that "This plan has failed. Let me do this plan." Again failed? "Again another, again another." [Bg. 9.12].

[Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.]

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay

PADA: Yes, Srila Prabhupada also says the mundane world is the inter knitting knot of material energy. It seems -- the more the mundane people try to unravel it, the more they become entangled in it. In other words, the material energy is insurmountable -- except and only for a devotee who surrenders to the master of the material energy. ys pd