Overview
This short article, Vaiṣṇavera Vyavahāra Duḥkha (The Worldly Difficulties of a Vaiṣṇava) was published in the 10th Volume, 2nd Issue of Sajjana Toṣaṇī in 1898. Herein, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains the difference between the difficulties encountered by a Vaiṣṇava and those of a non-Vaiṣṇava. Towards the end of the article he speaks about the Bubonic Plague which broke out at the end of 1897 and was still a huge threat in Kolkata at the time of writing.
(translated by Swami B.V. Giri)
There are many human beings in the world and they are divided into two groups, Vaiṣṇavas and non-Vaiṣṇavas. Those who are bereft of bhakti, be they a scholar, a rich man, a strong man, a brāhmaṇa, a king or his subject – they are all non-Vaiṣṇavas. One who has bhakti, whether he is a householder or a sannyāsī, whether he is rich or poor, whether he is a scholar or a fool, whether he is weak or strong, he is a Vaiṣṇava.
The various physical and mental activities of the Vaiṣṇvavas, just like the non-Vaiṣṇavas while journeying in the physical body, can be difficult. All such difficulties encountered by Vaiṣṇavas are not real difficulties, but are temporary, just like the difficulties of those travelling to Vaikuṇṭha – thus those difficulties are eventually severed. In this regard, Śrī Vṛndāvana Dāsa Ṭhākura has written:
yata dekha vaiṣṇavera vyavahāra-duḥkha
niścaya jāniha sei parānanda-sukha
viṣaya-madāndha saba kichui nā jāne
vidyā-made, dhana-made vaiṣṇava nā cine
“Know for certain that whatever so-called worldly distress is seen in a Vaiṣṇava is actually the greatest happiness. People intoxicated with pride due to sense enjoyment know nothing. They cannot recognize a Vaiṣṇava due to pride born of knowledge and wealth.” (Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khāṇḍa 9.240-241)
The meaning is that this mortal life for the non-Vaiṣṇavas is everything. The pain they suffer is easily exacerbated. Despite their best efforts to alleviate this suffering, their pain cannot be eradicated. In this way, their lives are spent in torment. On the other hand, we should understand that the worldly life of exalted devotees is a temporary journey. Thus, the temporary worldly distress in their lives is spent with complete disregard since they are under the influence of pure spiritual happiness. Therefore, O brothers, in this world, only the gems of hari-bhakti have been collected carefully. Be counted amongst the Vaiṣṇavas and do not consider yourself as a non-Vaiṣṇava.
Fearing this plague is the mentality of a non-Vaiṣṇava. Look brothers! What can this plague do to you? What real harm can the plague do by ending this useless life? If you desire some benefit, learn a lesson from the plague. If you are caught by the plague, then your life is over. Imagine where your wealth and happiness will go! Therefore, without wasting your time uselessly, constantly and sincerely chant hari-nāma with devotion. Then billions of plagues cannot do anything to you.
(Vaiṣṇavera Vyavahāra Duḥkha’ -The Worldly Difficulties of a Vaiṣṇavas – was published in the 10th Volume, 2nd Issue of Sajjana Toṣaṇī in 1898 and translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri)
(‘Vaiṣṇavera Vyavahāra Duḥkha – The Worldly Difficulties of a Vaiṣṇava’ by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was published in the 10th Volume, 2nd Issue of Sajjana Toṣaṇī in 1898 and translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri.
More Articles by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
The Hindu Idols
This thirty-two page English letter "The Hindu Idols" written in 1899 was in response to the Christian Tract Society of Calcutta who had previously published an article entitled, "Prof. Max Muller on Durgā", in which Kālī, Durgā and Śiva were slandered from an evangelistic viewpoint. Bhaktivinoda wrote an exhaustive response on the true identity of the personalities in question. He concludes by briefly mentioning Mahāprabhu and discusses the true Christian attitude of universal love, devoid of sectarian dogmatism, and discusses the nature of prema. It is interesting to note that, due to the academic nature of this letter, he signs off as ‘Kedarnatha Vidyavinoda’ rather than Bhaktivinoda. In 1901, he rewrote and summarised the same article for Dawn Magazine and renamed it, ‘On Durga, Siva and Kali in Their Exoteric Aspects: A Criticism on Max Muller’.
Viśuddha Bhajana (Pure Bhajana)
Viśuddha Bhajana (Pure Bhajana) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol.11 issue 7 in 1899. This article by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is a concise and important explanation of what is necessary to improve one’s bhajana in order to achieve prema.
Śraddhā
Śraddhā was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.9, issue 8 in 1897. In this article, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura examines the important topic of śraddhā and its vital importance in the life of a practicing devotee.
On 18th August 2012, on the occasion of his Vyāsa Pūjā, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja announced to the devotees that he had a strong desire to create a website called “Bhaktivinoda Institute” in honour of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and his teachings in order to preserve and propagate them. 
