Expect More Pain, Not Less—If You’re Doing It Right
“Just as a blazing fire burns wood to ashes, the fire of knowledge burns all reactions of material misdeeds to ashes.”
— Bhagavad-gītā 4.37
A concerned father complained that his son was lazy and disinterested in life. His proof? The boy did no work at home. The father believed the cause was a lack of physical exercise. “If only he exercised,” he said, “he’d feel fresh and motivated.”
But upon deeper reflection, it became clear that exercise wasn’t the root issue.
The boy was addicted—to social media and gambling apps. This wasn’t just about laziness; this was about avoidance. But even that wasn’t the final layer. Beneath the addiction was trauma: childhood scars from a painful divorce of his parents and abandonment by his mother. These wounds had never been acknowledged, let alone healed. The son wasn’t just lazy. He was numbing himself.
Enter Krishna Consciousness… as a Quick Fix?
So, the father turned to ISKCON, hoping that spiritual life would “fix” his son. In the beginning, chanting, hearing, and temple life worked wonders. The boy felt refreshed. His habits improved. He smiled more.
But why?
Because the novelty of spiritual life acted like a painkiller. It offered temporary relief from inner turmoil—just like the apps once did. But spiritual life isn’t meant to numb pain. It’s meant to heal it.
And healing, unlike numbing, hurts.
The True Nature of the Process
Krishna consciousness is not a dopamine hit. It’s not meant to “make us feel good.” It’s meant to make us whole. And that wholeness often begins by exposing what is broken.
When the Holy Name enters the heart, it doesn’t just soothe—it shows. It becomes a mirror, revealing our deep-seated attachments, fears, traumas, and sins. Initially, this can be unsettling. The same boy who once found joy in japa may now feel restless. Instead of peace, he may feel pain—because healing is happening.
If we expect Krishna consciousness to simply cheer us up, we’ll be shocked when it stirs things up.
The Rare Disease Analogy
There was once a woman diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease—pemphigus vulgaris. Doctors gave up hope. But one expert offered an unconventional path:
“Stop all medicines,” he said. “Have another child. Let all rashes and boils come out. Then, I will give natural remedies. But be prepared for two years of intense suffering.”
She surrendered. It was agonizing—but she was eventually healed.
Spiritual life works the same way. When we come to Krishna, old pains erupt. Misunderstandings from devotees, accusations, surfacing anarthas, or deep-seated guilt can overwhelm us. But this eruption is not failure. It is purification. And if we mistake it for spiritual decline, we’ll feel betrayed by the process.
What’s the Solution?
There are two paths forward for someone like the boy:
- Embrace the full spectrum of Krishna consciousness.
This means surrendering even when it hurts. Staying on the course through confusion, discomfort, and emotional detox.
2. Or take parallel help—professional therapy, trauma healing, and emotional support—while continuing Krishna consciousness
Chanting Hare Krishna is not a substitute for counseling. Nor is it an alternative to dopamine fixes like social media. It’s a divine medicine, and medicine works when we’re ready to face our wounds.
Conclusion: Choose Healing, not Escapism
We cannot afford to misuse Krishna consciousness as just another painkiller. If we do, we’ll eventually feel it ‘doesn’t work.’ But it’s not failing. It’s doing exactly what it’s meant to do – bringing out the poison to clean it.
The Holy Name does not merely console. It cleanses. It does not only comfort. It confronts.
True Krishna consciousness may initially increase the discomfort – but only to remove the disease. And that, ultimately, is the greatest blessing.
“O Krishna, calamities are welcome again and again, for they bring us closer to You.”
— Queen Kunti (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.25)
