When a person is absorbed in his or her enjoyment, it is extremely difficult to think and care for others. Imagine you are going in the costliest car, eating and enjoying the finest delicacies, it is rare we will think about the suffering of others!
For an embodied soul, enjoyment and service cannot go together. The natural position of the living entity is that he or she is a servant of Krishna.
The following factors can help us understand we are not the enjoyers but servants:
1] Our bodies are not fit for enjoyment: The construction of our bodies is such that it is suited for tapasya, or austerity. Heavenly bodies are designed for enjoyment. Therefore, those trying to squeeze happiness through the body find that their bodies deteriorate faster than those engaged in austerities. Those engaged in austerities can live a healthier and longer life even in the material sense.
2] Our constitutional position is that of a servant: Soul cannot find happiness in trying to enjoy independent of Krishna. Even in the path of devotional service, when one tries to enjoy one’s devotional service, he or she has a great chance to become frustrated. A servant’s joy lies in the master’s happiness.
3] Krishna is the Only Enjoyer: Only Krishna reserves the right to hold both the titles of “Enjoyer” and “Well-wisher.”
When a living entity tries to enjoy, his or her determination to serve gets lost. Krishna says in BG 2.44,
bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānāṁ
tayāpahṛta-cetasām
vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ
samādhau na vidhīyate
In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place.
BG 5.29 states,
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati
A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.
Krishna is “bhokta” – the enjoyer, and Krishna is the supreme well-wisher – “suhrd”.
How can Krishna accomplish both the things at the same time when it’s practically impossible for any ordinary person to do it?
Krishna, being atmarama, has no material desires. Krishna, being aptakama, is satisfied in Himself. He is the original enjoyer. His any desire even for enjoyment doesn’t overpower His love and affection for His devotees. His personality of sat-cit-ananda doesn’t interfere in any way in He being the well-wisher of His devotees and of all living entities. Enjoyment and compassion both are eternally situated in His personality.
Devotees of the Lord are referred to as “suhrd”, well wishers, but they are never called as enjoyers!
Devotees tolerate the material desires, they tolerate indulging in acts of sense gratification that make them go far away from Krishna. They tolerate insults from people and thus they can become well-wishers of everyone.
SB 3.25.21 states,
titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ
suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām
ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ
sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ
The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.
Therefore, if we desire to be well-wishers of everyone, then we need to put a break to material enjoyment. And when we act according to our original nature, when we follow what is given in scriptures, when we serve and become well-wishers of everyone, then by acting in a way that pleases Krishna, He gives us real enjoyment. Devotee finds enjoyment in his or her service. He or she doesn’t need to go elsewhere for seeking pleasure. Krishna is anandamayo abhyasat. By being in touch with Krishna, by assisting Krishna, devotees derive real pleasure which is not derived by one who tries to attain it through any material means.
Therefore, even if one desires to enjoy, one must understand that real happiness lies only in serving Krishna. A servant of the king enjoys all pleasures of the king’s palace just by being in the vicinity of the king. Similarly, a devotee enjoys all pleasure simply by being with Krishna.
