Devotees often refer to the material world as maya. Maya means "that which is not", or illusion. Knowing the illusions of the material world is important in spiritual life.
What illusions of the material world can you think of?
Srila Prabhupada often emphasised that the material world is a place of suffering. Why is it important to emphasise this point? Why do devotees need to be convinced about it?
Miseries coming from one's own body and mind (aching bones, rotting teeth, headaches, worry and stress, etc.)
Miseries coming from other living beings (mosquitoes, envious people, vicious dogs, etc)
Miseries coming from nature (demigods) (earthquake, famine, extreme weather conditions, etc.)
Seeing how these four limiting factors of the material world create suffering for the living entity is an item of knowledge listed in Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12.
It takes a little contemplation and discussion to grasp. We usually forget the suffering of birth, and while we are young and healthy, old age, disease, and death seem distant and irrelevant. Therefore the Bhagavatam attempts to awaken us.
The material nature provides the living entity with much more opportunitiy to suffer than to enjoy. For example, how many different ways can you give pain to your foot compared to how many ways you can give it pleasure?
Even if we don't realize personally that the material world is a place of suffering, Lord Krsna certifies it in Bhagavad-gita 8.15 (duhkhalayam).
Material happiness: