“I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 21st, 1968, and may inform you that the horrible scene in the hospital is certainly ghastly. But we should at the same time know that this ghastly scene is in the matter of the bodily concept of life. This is maya’s illusion, and although the spirit soul has nothing to do with these horrible affairs, due to absorption of one’s consciousness in the body, one has to suffer the consequences of bodily identification.
So far we are concerned we shall neither be sympathetic nor apathetic in the matter of such bodily concept of life. Of course, it is quite natural to become sympathetic when one’s body is put into such horrible condition, but if you are firmly convinced that this body is separate from the soul, then we may not be distracted. That is not possible of course in the preliminary stage, but when we shall be in a transcendental position not to be disturbed ever by such a horrible scene, then our position is secure. The suffering of the man and the sympathy of the other man, both are centered on the body. But this we have to understand by knowledge. Then such horrible condition of body won’t be disturbing to us. That is the position of liberation. It doesn’t mean we shall not be sympathetic to one who is suffering, but we should always remember that such sufferings are due to the bodily concept of life. As you stated, that you simply want to leave the material world and be with Krsna, that is the best solution, rather than taking account of how things happened that you came here. Like that, our best occupation to get out of the scene by constantly chanting Hare Krsna and being engaged in the transcendental service of Lord
Krsna.”
(SP Letter to Yadunandana, 26th March, 1968)