2019 is gone. 2020 is in. Most of us are busy welcoming 2020, hoping that this year will
bring unlimited happiness and will fulfil all our unfulfilled desires. We are also hoping that
this year we should not be subjected to any types of miseries.
But is it not true that last year too we had the same hope at the beginning of the year? Not
just last year, in fact every year we had hoped that our life will be free of all sufferings. But it
is also true that just like a shadow, misery have always followed us.
We always look for mental peace but somehow or other many unpleasant events start
unfolding in our lives which steals away all the peace of our mind. We want good health but
surprisingly we get affected by multiple diseases.
Scriptures explain that we are always subjected by three types of miseries: adhidaivika-
kleśa (sufferings caused by the demigods, such as droughts, earthquakes and storms),
adhibhautika-kleśa (sufferings caused by other living entities like insects or enemies), and
adhyātmika-kleśa (sufferings caused by one’s own body and mind, such as mental and
physical infirmities).
We may blame our destiny or curse the higher powers for our sufferings, but the truth is
that we are responsible for all the pleasant or unpleasant situations in our lives. We suffer
because of the sins we have committed in our lives – either in this life or in previous life.
Padma Purana says that at all the time there are four effects of the sins (1) the sinful effect
which has still not fructified (2) the sinful effect which lies as seed (3) the sinful effect that is
already mature and (4) the sinful effect which is almost mature. The distress from which we
are suffering now are because of those sins which are “almost mature.” And other sins
which are now lying in the seed form or have not fructified will lead to future sufferings. So
when suffering suddenly appears in our life it means that the seeds of sin lying dormant
matured. And whatever sins we are committing now will surely lead to future sufferings. So,
it is wrong to blame someone else for our own misdeeds.
Now if we want to lead a peaceful and blissful life then we need to first free ourselves from
all the sins. All the sins should be burnt to ashes. This can only be possible if we bring
Krishna, the Supreme Lord and the Supreme Controller, in our life.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.19) Krishna says, “My dear Uddhava, just as a blazing fire
turns firewood into ashes, similarly, devotion unto Me completely burns to ashes sins
committed by My devotees.”
So, this New Year let us welcome Krishna in our life. Let us take a vow to take shelter of
Krishna. This will guarantee peace and unlimited bliss in our life which we all are desperately
looking for. And the best way to take shelter of Krishna is by chanting the Hare Krishna
Mahamantra – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.
(Purushottam Nitai Das is a member of congregation at Iskcon Kolkata. He works at IBM as
an Advisory Consultant. He writes at https://discoverursupersoul.com/)