What is the value of accepting this sacrifice for the human being? Can it be accepted as a kind of masochism?

Expressions researched:
"But now can it be accepted as a kind of masochism" |"What is the value of accepting this sacrifice for the human being"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

No. It is not like that. Just like if you are diseased, doctor says that "You don't eat this." So that is not self-inflicted. The idea is that just to become cured from your disease you accept the instruction of the physician. So unnecessarily, that is also condemned. If you simply fast unnecessarily, that is condemned. No. For a better purpose, paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. Yes. You can take some, accept some painstaking—for better purpose. If there is no purpose, what is the use of painstaking?

Lecture on BG 4.1 -- Montreal, August 24, 1968:

American man: What is the value of accepting this sacrifice for the human being?

Prabhupāda: For better benefit.

American man: But now can it be accepted as a kind of masochism?

Prabhupāda: What he's speaking? Masochism? What is this?

Devotee: Self-inflicted pain. "I want to hurt myself."

Prabhupāda: No. It is not like that. Just like if you are diseased, doctor says that "You don't eat this." So that is not self-inflicted. The idea is that just to become cured from your disease you accept the instruction of the physician. So unnecessarily, that is also condemned. If you simply fast unnecessarily, that is condemned. No. For a better purpose, paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (BG 9.59). Yes. You can take some, accept some painstaking—for better purpose. If there is no purpose, what is the use of painstaking? Śrama eva hi kevalam (SB 1.2.8). That is simply labor of love. That's all. So here everything is recommended for understanding Kṛṣṇa. That is not very difficult. By Kṛṣṇa's grace it is not at all difficult, but it appears to be difficult for a person who is accustomed to do such things. Otherwise it is not difficult. Yes.