​How can guilt manifest in a way favourable for bhakti?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

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or spontaneous devotion. So, how can guilt manifest in a way that is favorable for the practice of bhakti? That is very nicely seen in the sixth canto. Ajamil after he is saved by the Yamadutas, saved from the Yamadutas by the Vishnudutas.
So, it’s significant that when the Yamadutas they give a list of Ajamil’s sins and then Ajamil himself lists his sins. And actually Ajamil’s list is longer than the Yamadutas’ list. Ajamil says that oh, I left my, my father was old and my parents were old and I left them and they had to suffer because of that.
There are several things which he says that the Yamadutas also don’t talk about. That means he is very much aware of the wrongs that he has done. So, it’s not that in order to not feel bad because of guilt we somehow deny whatever wrong we have done.
It’s not that we rationalize. But Ajamil fully accepts, he confirms and accepts the wrong that he has done. But his focus is on somehow by Krishna’s mercy, somehow by Lord Vishnu’s mercy he sent his Vishnudutas and saved me.
Now, I will determinately practice bhakti. So, that means what happens is the right feeling of guilt is that first I am focused on Krishna and I want to connect with Krishna. And while connecting with Krishna if I remember oh, I have done so many wrong things and so far I am actually not qualified to have this opportunity.
But I have this opportunity. Let me treasure this opportunity. So, the feeling of guilt when it makes us appreciate the opportunity to practice bhakti in spite of our disqualifications then the focus becomes more on treasuring bhakti.
So, we become, we are aware of our sinfulness so that we recognize that how unqualified I am for bhakti and yet Krishna has given me this opportunity. So, let me take this opportunity and let me never again lose this opportunity. Let me never do anything that will even create the danger of losing this opportunity.
So, in that sense the guilt is, so guilt in the light of Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness means I am conscious of how much Krishna has been kind to me, how Krishna has given me something and in that light how could I have done such a thing? How could I have done such a thing? It was so terrible. I will never again do such a thing.
So, without Krishna consciousness, many psychologists talk about how guilt is psychologically damaging. Actually, there are so many emotions that can be psychologically damaging. So, what we need to have is we focus on Krishna first and then awareness of our sinfulness and our disqualification for Krishna bhakti and still Krishna’s mercy giving us bhakti, that is the primary characteristic of guilt as we see in Ajaman’s pastime.
So, when guilt makes us aware of our sinfulness and our disqualifications and therefore we recognize how merciful Krishna is to give me this opportunity and we hold on to that opportunity and that is guilt that is unaccountable to bhakti. Does that answer the question? Or you have something more to add? This is related to one quote.