Question : I hear that many elevated devotees (including the gopis) also feel distress in separation from Krishna and some express those in their inability to do devotional service properly. Do they really feel distress? Isn’t spiritual life, being the opposite of material life, supposed to be blissful? Can you please clear up my doubt?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Suddha and abhasa are as different as an object and its reflection.
Material distress is illusion, in all respects.
When there is attachment for Krishna, however, the feelings related to His separation are but an intensification of love, and thus delightfully enjoyable, although by the standards of illusion “the pain of separation” appears to be suffering.
Spiritual emotion is a great science; the specific topic of vipralambha-bhava or viraha-bhava (love in separation) is a very deep theology which is core to understanding the gift of love of God which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is offering us. Search Nectar of Devotion, for starters, to deepen your understanding of this sublime teaching.
