Prabhupada on suffering of material existence

Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk

Prabhupāda: ...difference between our activities and general people’s activities.
Devotee (1): The result is different.
Hari-śauri: Our activities are liberating, and their activities are entangling.
Devotee (2): The difference in our activities is that because we see everything as Kṛṣṇa’s energy, we feel the material world is never disturbing to us. Whereas for the karmīs, the material world is always very disturbing for them.
Prabhupāda: Yes. But they want that disturbance. He’s trying to be happy, but they do not know what is eternal happiness. We’re also trying for happiness, but our aim is eternal happiness.
Devotee (3): They think that eternal happiness means the same happiness that we experience in the material world, but it lasts forever, because they cannot conceive of a different quality of blissfulness.
Prabhupāda: This is difference. One is eternal; one is temporary and miserable. Although it is so-called happiness, it is temporary. At any moment it is finished. Actually there is no happiness. Still, even they consider this is happiness, that is temporary. You cannot enjoy. At any moment you’ll be finished. Just like the surfers, they’re enjoying happiness. At any moment they can be finished.
Devotee (3): Danger also.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Any moment.
Devotee (3): So there’s anxiety in all of the happiness in this world.
Prabhupāda: Yes. (Sanskrit) asad grahāt. Because they have accepted something which is not happiness, temporary, they’re always full of anxiety. This is the nature. The bird flying, anxiety “Oh, so many men are coming.” He’s not in peace. He was eating something; as soon as he sees so many.... “Oh, away,” flying. Anxiety.

Morning Walk
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May 30, 1976, Honolulu