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Life cannot be
prolonged by heart transplant. You cannot increase the duration of
life. One can perhaps give some relief to disease, that is another
thing, but the duration of life is destined. From the dead body, one
cannot bring life. Similarly, it may appear that one is prolonging the
duration of life by medicines or heart transplant, but that is not the
case. If one lives 4 years after having had a heart transplant, then by
nature's law he was destined to live four years with or without having
had a heart transplant. So what is the value of heart transplant?
Only by the yogic
process can one prolong the life. By stopping the breathing process,
keeping in samadhi, the breath period is not being misused, and
he increases the life span. Therefore, destiny can only be changed by
devotional service or yoga. Otherwise, what you must suffer,
you must suffer, and what you must enjoy, you must enjoy. For a devotee
however, whatever it may be, he takes the opportunity to chant Hare
Krishna, and if by Krishna's Grace destiny is changed, then it is
alright. Nature's law will work. We cannot change that, but Krishna,
the Supreme Controller, He can change it; just like if a man is
sentenced to be hanged, no one, not even the judge can pardon him,
except the king or president. He only can excuse the offender.
Similarly, I have to execute Krishna's order, and suppose I have to
suffer to execute this order. Therefore, devotional service and the
devotee is so dear to Krishna. The devotee is prepared to die at any
moment, but he simply wants to be engaged in Krishna's service. "I am
suffering, I cannot carry out the order of Krishna...'' This line of
thinking is sense gratification. Suppose a devotee had to suffer in
preaching work, just like Haridasa Thakura or Prahlada Maharaja.
Prahlada's father, Hiranyakasipu was giving so much trouble, but to
Prahlada it was not trouble. He was simply concerned to see that others
who were suffering might take to Krishna Consciousness. That is the
Vaishnava's concern. For myself, let me go to hell, I can chant Hare
Krishna, but the Vaishnava is simply lamenting for the nondevotees who
must go immediately from the room? No. The living body or the dead
body, either way it is the same, simply earth, air, water, fire, and
ether.
