The body holds many trigger points within it’s muscles. The build up of toxins cause the fibres of the muscles to entwine, causing pain and tension. The heart is in a similar state, with a build up of toxic desires.
If you have ever had mayofascial release work done on your muscles, you know the pain. Getting gentle massages are relaxing and relieving, but for someone aware of the source of the chronic muscular pain, being what feel like mini boulders beneath the skin – those hard knots of muscle fibres compressed and entwined, know that to really get relief from the constant suffering, it to endure pain first.
Mayofascial release is the gradual increase of pressure directly on the trigger points in the muscles; the contracted muscles fibres or knots. The massage therapist adds a tremendous amount of pressure causing an excruciating level of pain. However once the person accepts the pain, welcoming it and endured it, the knot releases and the person is relieved of the suffering and tension. Often this type of pain is felt pleasurable, like a relieving pain.
Our hearts also contain many contracted knots that prevent the smooth flow of love to Krsna.
Our hearts also contain many contracted knots that prevent the smooth flow of love to Krsna. They create an environment in the heart that blocks the ability for Krsna to be fully manifest. With these boulder like mass’, there is no room for Krsna.
These knots in the heart are created from our past karmic impressions. Lingering desires, characteristic flaws and mental tendencies sit within the fibres of the heart like aromas sitting in the fibres of fabric after cooking fragrant foods. For a devotee who has surrendered to the Lord, will question, why do I have suffer my karma?
Srila Prabhupada says that Krsna in order to eradicate the tendency for the devotee to enjoy the world will award them a difficult situation, which appears to be suffering, punishment or a karmic reaction. But a maturing devotee on the path of Bhakti, can learn to see that this is just like the relieving process of a therapist pressing the body’s muscular trigger points to release the knot.
Srila Prabhupada calls this Krsna’s “special mercy” and a “curative treatment by the personal hand of the Lord” (purport of 10.14.8, Srimad Bhagavatam).
Krsna Himself states in Srimad Bhagavatam, verse 10.88.8, that he gradually deprives a devotee of all wealth, this person then suffers distress after distress and that this is actually His special favour.
Before we label Krsna as some sadist, we need to remember the example of the therapist that pushes against the knots to relieve the suffering.
‘Srila Prabhupada calls this “special suffering”‘
Srila Prabhupada calls this “special suffering” and uses the example of a loving father restricting a child for their own welfare.
We can think of it like this; we are unaware of our many desires that block having Krsna fully visible to us in our heart and what is He to do when we sincerely call for him and ask to establish a relationship with him but in our heart there is no space for Him? What is He to do when we call for Him but we turn away, distracted by our addiction to the temporary pleasures of the world?
He must find a way to release these knots and just as a therapist releasing the knots from the muscles, needs to apply the due pressure to have the body back in normal balance, He applies his curative treatment also.
So we can see that all suffering and intensely challenging circumstances as not just our karma but “Krsna-karma” or special treatments by Krsna, who can expertly see the knots in the heart that are blocking his sitting place in our congested heart.
The argument could be that “well why do I have to go through the pain? Why can’t he just magic it away painlessly?”
Krsna consciousness is a personal process of realisation. By personal I mean; we are accountable, by process I mean; it doesn’t happen suddenly and by realisation, I mean; a genuine awakening of knowledge. We gain no true depth, a character change or genuine growth if a magic wand is waved over us. The process is also the development of an actual relationship, where both individuals have responsibility and choice.
A devotee can choose to see Krsna’s tests and mercy as just inconveniences, which many have done and then they have unfortunately left Him. This is why the path of Bhakti is for the very rare few and the confidentially of the sweetness in Bhakti is protected by this very difficult to understand path.
Alternatively, some choose to continue serving because they really are learning that there no true love other than Him. They choose to feel the pleasure of Krsna’s presence in the suffering. The pleasure of knowing He is showing His special favour. And so the superficial “good and bad” is not considered by the devotee. Everything is actually the merciful hand of the Lord.
“Love for Krsna involves pain”
Love for Krsna involves pain. Sorry to say. Be that the pain of knots releasing from the heart or the pain of separation, either way, a devotee sits in bliss knowing that Krsna is showing his special attention. Furthermore, it makes union with Him ever more sweet, just like the light is appreciated in darkness.
And in the pure stage of love for Krsna, that pain is full transcendental pleasure. We can take the Gopi’s love as the highest example of this. When Krsna needed the dust of a pure devotee’s feet to relieve His headache, the Gopi’s not caring for the potential of going to hell as a result and only caring for the relief of Krsna’s pain immediately provided the mud from their soles.
So if we really want Krsna, if we really want Him, we must be willing to endure whatever it takes to get it and begin to see His love through the pain.
And Krsna will notice our willingness to endure suffering in pursuit of serving Him and this intense voluntary love will be just a small price for what Srila Prabhupada calls “transcendental boundless pleasure” (Srimad Bhagavatam purp. 10.88.8).
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