Question: Your answer in Digest 245A is convincing when it comes to material fears. But I would like to know the following:
Question 1: In my school and home, I was taught not to sin and that God punishes those who sin. Can you kindly define “sin”?
Answer by Romapada Swami: The Supreme Lord has established certain codes of law for the ultimate benefit of all living entities. Just as there are state laws that regulate the activities of the citizens, these Supreme universal laws of God are known as dharma, or the codes of religion – ‘dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam’. The root cause of all sin is deliberate disobedience of these laws of God – whether willfully, or out of ignorance, or due to the influence of unnecessary attachments and aversions.
Srila Prabhupada defines and explains this idea of the root cause of sin in Isopanishad Mantra 1 purport. As he describes there, human life – as distinguished from animal life – is a life of responsibility. In the human form of life, we have the ability to inquire, discern and exercise our freewill, and in turn we are held responsible for our actions, either good or bad. Specifically, we are endowed with the ability to recognize the proprietorship of God and act with that understanding (isavasyam idam sarvam). Neglecting this responsibility involves us in sin.
When we fail to recognize that everything actually belongs to God and is meant to be used according to His directions in His service, we claim what belongs to God as our own, we acquire more than what we need, encroach upon other’s rights and ultimately cause violence upon others for our personal aggrandizement – each of these progressively implicates us in greater sin. Particularly, illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling (untruthfulness) are described as the four pillars of sinful life; and each of these stem from failing to recognize how everything belongs to God.
For example, by nature’s law humans are not meant to subsist on animal flesh. Those who do so simply for the satisfaction of the palette causing unnecessary violence upon innocent animals are committing a great sin. There may be others who are vegetarian, and yet extravagant and encroaching upon other’s rights — they are also committing sin. Even killing plants for our selfish end constitutes sin, although of a lesser degree. But one who recognizes the Lord as the actual proprietor, offers the food in devotion, and accepts as prasadam only as much as one needs in one’s service to God is actually free from sin.
So, without acknowledging the Supreme Proprietor, however moral and upright one may be by social norms, one is entangled in sin and is likened to thieves for having stolen God’s property.
Question 2: What is the difference between God-fearing and faith in God?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Fear is a strong incentive, but love is a much stronger motivating force. Although inducing by fear is on a low level, occasionally it has its place particularly for those whose consciousness and loving capacity are not very developed. For example, when a child is extremely naughty and destructive, for his own good he may be temporarily brought under control through fear of punishment. But loving parents would not stop with threats and sanctions; they would try to help the child understand the consequences of his actions, to become responsible and come to the point of obeying them out of love and respect.
In the same spirit, there are parts of Vedic teachings for those in lower levels of consciousness that emphasize fear and punishment to curb their grossly sinful tendencies. These descriptions of punishment in hell or the results that would accrue from sinful actions are factual and not merely religious stories fabricated to control people. Understanding the stringent laws of nature and the grave consequences of our actions is important as much as the need to understand traffic rules or the state laws; it can help us become responsible. But such sermons full of fire-and-brimstone are not meant to be the sole means of inducing people to act righteously. Religious groups or proponents who adopt such an outlook, without offering any positive prescriptions for developing our loving connection with God, succeed only in making people resentful and deny the very existence of God.
It should be noted that the Vedic scriptures do often speak of fear of God: “Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the wind blows, out of fear of Him the sun shines, out of fear of Him the rain pours forth showers… It is only due to fear of Him that death and Indra, the King of heaven, perform their respective duties,” etc. But this fear of disregarding the Lord or fear of displeasing Him are based on deep feelings of respect and reverential awe. Such feelings of reverence towards the Lord or the spiritual master is not unwholesome, it is in fact healthy and recommended to protect us from familiarity, negligence and transgression. But it should be understood that what is called fear in this context is very different from the negatively impacting fear of punishment or suffering.
Question 3: How can one overcome fear of God? How do we know if we are practicing devotional service out of love for God or out of fear of being punished?
Answer by Romapada Swami: You can go beyond merely fearing God or fearing punishment by deliberately cultivating and nurturing the opposite feelings, viz. loving feelings for Krishna and His representatives. Instead of focusing on avoiding sins, invest consciousness in doing the right things and pleasing Krishna, and in lovingly and joyfully submitting to His merciful instructions. The injunctions of scriptures are meant for our ultimate welfare and protection, not simply intended to punish and reward us whimsically. Meditate upon the great merit of submission to superior direction, how pleasing such adherence would be to our Supreme well-wishing Father. Meditate upon those loving devotees who serve Krishna without any selfish consideration and how Krishna reciprocates with them. By deliberately cultivating loving devotional feelings, we can go beyond the lower motivations of fear and avoiding bad consequences.
