We must suffer for our past misdeeds; this is an irrevocable fact.

However, the suffering of those who serve God with love and devotion is reduced to a minimum. For example, instead of being stabbed as our destiny would have it, we may only receive a cut on our finger. Thus, the consequences of the past actions of those who practice devotional service are minimized.

Krishna, God, says: However, the suffering of those who serve God with love and devotion is reduced to a minimum. For example, instead of being stabbed as our destiny would have it, we may only receive a cut on our finger. Thus, the consequences of the past actions of those who practice devotional service are minimized.

In truth, suffering is useful and necessary.

Suffering is useful and necessary because, through the pain we experience, we learn what evil thoughts, words, and actions generate, and thus make the firm resolve never again to do harm in any form whatsoever to anyone, human, animal, or plant.

Suffering is useful and necessary because it allows us to reduce the mass of culpable acts accumulated during all our previous lives and to erase the sins inherent in these malicious, even criminal, acts.

Suffering is useful and necessary because it allows us to have a clear idea of ​​the pain felt by the person we harmed in our previous life, being indifferent to their cries. It also allows us to know that “what we have done will be done to us,” and thus to modify our behavior by living according to the teachings of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Suffering is useful and necessary because it allows us to become aware of our evil deeds, to do penance, to repent, to ask for forgiveness, to turn to God, to respect and definitively apply divine precepts, laws, and commandments, and to resolve never to do it again.

We must also understand that we constantly suffer the consequences of our sinful acts committed in our previous lives. Karma, in this case, acts as an infallible form of justice. It is through karma, or the law of action-reaction, the law of cause and effect, that we can correct our behavior and improve ourselves.

Let us not harm anyone. No human being, whether white, black, yellow, red, or mixed race, no land or aquatic animal, no plant, from the blade of grass to the great tree that shelters many living beings, and let us love one another with unconditional love. Let us also love all animals and plants with equal love, and above all, let us take care of them and protect them.

But above all, let us abandon ourselves completely to God, let us take pleasure in loving Him, obeying Him, doing His divine will, and serving Him with love and devotion.