The world is full of suffering, but under the spell of maya, illusion, we accept this suffering condition as progress. But ultimately whatever we do, death is there. All the resultant action of our activities are taken away and we are put to death. So under these circumstances there is no happiness within this material world. I have fully arranged for my happiness, and any moment, just after arrangement, we are kicked out; we have to accept death.

So where is happiness here?

The intelligent man is always pessimistic, that “First of all let us become secure,” that we are trying to adjust this material position to become happy. But who is going to allow us to become happy here? This is pessimistic view. And then further advancement of knowledge is there, and when he understands the orders the orders of Krsna, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and after surrendering and understanding Him fully, then we go to the world which is full of bliss, knowledge and eternal life, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya. That is perfection of life.

So unless we take a pessimistic view of this material world, we shall remain attached to it, and there will be repetition of birth and death.

From Srila Prabhupada’s discussion of the philosopher William James