Becoming Perturbed - From Material Fear to Transcendental Anxiety
The quality of mental agitation, or becoming perturbed, varies significantly depending on whether one is situated in material or spiritual consciousness. While the materialist is perturbed by the inevitable calamities of life and the influence of the modes of nature, the devotee experiences a unique form of perturbation rooted in ecstatic love for the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the goal of spiritual life is not to become stone-like and emotionless, but to shift one's perturbation from the temporary anxieties of the body to the eternal anxieties of divine relationship.
Perturbation due to Material and Demonic Influence
In the material world, perturbation often arises as a response to the presence of evil or the breakdown of religious principles. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that when demoniac kings like Hiraṇyakaśipu perform severe penances to become immortal, the entire universe becomes perturbed. Similarly, a pious king like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira would become immediately perturbed upon seeing inhuman symptoms like greed, anger, and hypocrisy rampant in society. This type of perturbation is a natural reaction of a sane and pious soul to the misuse of human energy and the burdens placed upon the earth.
- A pious king as Maharaja Yudhisthira at once became perturbed when there were such inhuman symptoms as greed, anger, irreligiosity and hypocrisy rampant in society.
- Hiranyakasipu, he also performed tapasya. What was that tapasya? He performed severe tapasya, so much so that the whole universe become perturbed and Brahmaji came to see, "What do you want?" No, I am performing tapasya for becoming immortal.
- When misuse of human energy is prominent, the saner living beings become perturbed by the awkward situation created by the vicious administrators, who are simply burdens of the earth.
Transcendental Anxiety and Ecstatic Love
In the higher stages of devotion, perturbation takes on a purely spiritual character. This is seen in the intimate associates of the Lord who become perturbed out of intense affection. For example, when Kṛṣṇa entered the Kāliya lake, His friends became so perturbed that they fell unconscious. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that even the Supreme Lord, appearing as a human being, exhibits signs of being perturbed and grieving when hearing unfortunate news. This transcendental perturbation is a symptom of the deep "mellows" or relationships shared between the Lord and His devotees in Vṛndāvana.
- When Krsna entered the lake of Kaliya, His intimate friends became so perturbed that their bodily colors faded, and they all produced horrible gurgling sounds. At that time all of them fell down on the ground as if they were unconscious.
- When Krsna was playing jokes on Rukmini, she feared that Krsna might leave her and became so perturbed that she dropped the fan with which she was fanning Him and fainted, falling unconscious on the floor.
- When Lord Krsna heard this unfortunate news from the unknown man, He at first became most perturbed, just like an ordinary human being. His face showed signs of grief, and He began to cry in a piteous tone.
Stability of the Pure Devotee
Despite the appearance of perturbation in the pastimes of the Lord, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that a pure devotee is never truly perturbed by mundane bodily demands. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, for instance, was not perturbed by hunger or thirst, as his mind was fully absorbed in the Lord. When the mind is fixed on the transcendental form of Kṛṣṇa, all "mental incongruities" are erased. The Lord Himself reassures Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gītā that although His universal form may be frightening, the devotee should not remain perturbed but should return to a peaceful state by seeing His two-armed, beautiful form.
- Maharaja Pariksit was a pure devotee of the Lord, and there was no reason for him to become extremely fatigued, hungry and thirsty because a devotee of the Lord never becomes perturbed by such bodily demands.
- The transcendental form of the Lord, as it is, satisfies the mind's desire and at once erases all mental incongruities. Upon losing that form, I (Narada Muni) suddenly got up, being perturbed, as is usual when one loses that which is desirable.
- Your mind has been perturbed upon seeing this horrible feature of Mine. Now let it be finished. My devotee, be free from all disturbance. With a peaceful mind you can now see the form you desire.
Conclusion
Perturbation is an inescapable part of life, but its cause determines its result. While the materialist remains perturbed due to a lack of rest and a lack of information about the spiritual world, the devotee’s perturbation is a sign of their compassion and love. As Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes, being compassionate toward the suffering of others is a true sign of Vaiṣṇavism. By purifying our emotions, we can transform material fear into the transcendental anxiety of the spiritual world, where every agitation is a step toward deeper association with Kṛṣṇa.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Becoming Perturbed. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.
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