18.61 – Krishna is not doing things to us; he is doing things for us

“Why is Krishna doing this to me?” We may get this question when we are faced with problems and have some nominal faith in Krishna as the universal controller.

To understand the answer, we need to first comprehend our current situation as explained by Gita wisdom. We are all spiritual souls whose present tenure in material existence is a diseased phase in our life of eternity. Our own past ungodly desires and karmic misdeeds are the infections underlying our sick state. He is the supreme doctor who is constantly and competently treating us.

When a patient is in pain while being under a doctor’s treatment, the doctor doesn’t cause the pain; the disease does. Of course, the doctor may do some things to the patient that may be painful like giving injections or conducting surgeries. But the purpose is not to cause pain; the purpose is to cure pain. As the doctor is working on behalf of the patent, the doctor is not doing things to the patient, but doing things for the patient.

The same applies to Krishna as regards the things that happen to us. To be of the best aid to us, he stays round-the-clock with us in our own heart, as the Bhagavad-gita (18.61) indicates. He guides us to act in ways that alleviate the pain, not aggravate it. Though he may sometimes let things happen to us that are painful, he is not their cause; our karmic misdeeds are. He is the cure, offering us knowledge through Gita wisdom and solace through his remembrance.

Such philosophical understanding and devotional realization raise our faith in Krishna from nominal to substantial. When we thus understand his benevolent role, we free ourselves from resentment and fill ourselves with empowerment to face life’s problems.

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The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.