Suffering: Causes of Suffering

Q. Even after doing lot of pious activities, devotional services one still undergoes lot of suffering? Why?
What is the solution? Good people go through bad things and Bad people go through good things? Why?

Q. It has always been puzzling for me when, in the heat of life's struggles, one faces situations of hardship, how does one know if it is, for example, Krishna testing our resolve to serve him, or is it karma because our endeavor is contaminated by material desires or, is it a message meant to make us realize that adjustments need to be made in order to achieve our goals?

Q. Is donating "blood" correct according to the shastras? Nowadays there is a lot of encouragement for blood and organ donation. How should we look at these from a Vedic perspective?

There are no specific injunctions for/against blood donation. However, in principle such acts are generally understood to be within the category of material or bodily compassion, which is not only temporary but also superficial in that it does not address the real issue.

Q. Why are people suffering?  Knowingly or unknowingly people are put into dificulties, and thereby they go away from devotional service. How can one fix one's mind upon the Lord who is the creator of this universe?

Thank you for your compassionate question. The root cause for all suffering is ignorance or forgetfulness of our loving relationship with God.

It is not difficulties themselves that cause one to 'go away from devotional service'. Rather it is due to ignorance of God's true nature as well as one's own that people turn away from the Supreme Lord.

Q. 1. I am very unclear and confused. Bhagavan Shri Krishna says that all that is happening is predestined and nothing moves without His sanction. Then He says in BG 2.47 'Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself.'

Q. What is the explanation for people dying due to disasters, accidents, war etc.? Is it due only to karma or is it because of persons who follow the path of "adharma" and are creating trouble for the innocent people by misusing their free will? (like Duryodhana created trouble for Pandavas)

Q. I have a question relating to Avanti Brahmana narration found in Canto 11 of the SB. His conclusion was that the false ego is the cause of his suffering - is it the same meaning that is conveyed in Bg.14.19?

The story of Avanti Brahmana is narrated by Krishna to illustrate how one should soberly tolerate the disturbances and offenses caused by others, and remain fixed on the spiritual path. Note that the conclusion of Avanti brahmana was that the mind, not the false ego, is the cause of one's happiness and distress.