01/18/98 - 1514

Cause Of "Devotee" Illness

USA (VNN) - by Agrahya das

We've always known that it seems part of Krishna consciousness is that one's body gets sick. Sometimes disease is easily attributed to poor hygiene, mental distress or overeating. Generally we understand these as the root causes.

A recent article suggested that a devotee's disease was caused by committing offenses. However, reading Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur's commentary on Verse One of Siksastakam reveals a different possible cause for devotees suffering physically:

"Vidya-vadhu-jivanam: Sri Krishna sankirtana is the life of all transcendental knowledge

A question may be raised here: when will those who have already attained pure bhakti obtain their spiritual forms or svarupa? In reply to this question, Sri Sacinandana Gauracandra says, "vidya-vadhu-jivanam." In reality Bhagavan has but one sakti. Its two functions are vidya (knowledge) and avidya (ignorance). The Lord's internal potency known as yogamaya svarupa sakti is called vidya. The external potency (mahamaya), which is responsible for the creation of the material world and which covers the original spiritual form of the living entities and the qualities associated with that form, is called avidya.

When pure bhakti arises in the heart of the sadhaka jiva by continual practice of hearing and chanting, Bhakti-devi, who dispels all desires other than that for service of the Lord, removes the above mentioned ignorance (avidya). By the function of the knowledge potency (vidya-vritti), Bhakti-devi destroys the gross and subtle body of the jiva. Simultaneously, Bhakti-devi manifests the original pure spiritual form of the jiva."

There is no precedent for suggesting that a sadhaka (devotee practicing sadhana-bhakti) gets ill as a result of offenses. Offenses may result in a wide variety of reactions, including bhrama-tattva (becoming bewildered about various truths) and ultimately in losing one's taste for devotional service.

Gopala Capala was afflicted with leprosy due to having offended the great devotee Haridas Thakur, but the brahmana Gopala Capala was neither a devotee nor a practitioner of bhakti.

The conclusion is that offenses, especially against Vaishnavas, regardless of their standing and character, are to be strictly avoided. But it is incorrect to think that good health is a sign of spiritual advancement, or that sickness is a sign of offenses.