Without Fear - The Shelter of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently emphasizes that fear is a fundamental symptom of material life, born from our illusion of bodily identification. However, the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness offers a direct route to complete fearlessness, allowing the sincere soul to navigate the dangers of this world while resting securely in the ultimate protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Anxieties of Material Life
In the conditioned state, every living entity is plagued by the constant need to defend themselves. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that as long as we are contaminated by material desires, our existence is inherently insecure, making true peace impossible without spiritual realization.
- Eating, sleeping, and during sleeping we sometimes dream, fearing, or without dream, fearing. So we take protection. While sleeping, we close our doors.
- One has to become cleansed of the material contamination that he has acquired in order to regain his relationship with the Supreme Lord. That is the only path back without fear, Krsna consciousness.
- Akuto-bhayah means without any fear. You can keep yourself in Krsna consciousness as it is prescribed. Then your life is secure, akuto-bhayah. Therefore no more fear.
- Because of the presence of the Lord in the form of the transcendental vibration, the Vaikuntha atmosphere is evoked. This atmosphere is without fear and anxiety. One living entity does not fear another.
The Absolute Protection of the Lord
A pure devotee is never paralyzed by the threats of the material world because they possess unwavering faith in Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when one is fully convinced of the Lord's omnipresence and absolute protection, they can execute their duties anywhere without fear.
- I shall never be alone, one should think. Even if I live in the darkest regions of a forest I shall be accompanied by Krsna, and He will give me all protection. That conviction is called abhayam, without fear.
- We should not think, "Because Krsna is supplying my food, I shall now sleep." No, you have to work, but without fear. You should engage yourself wholeheartedly in Krsna consciousness, confident of Krsna's maintenance and protection.
- One can ply over the ocean of material existence by the grace of the Lord very easily, without any fear of storm or fog.
- Anyone can take shelter of a pure Vaisnava, without fear.
The Renounced Order
Those who have formally accepted the renounced order of life dedicate all their energy to preaching the message of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that a genuine sannyāsī takes immense risks for the benefit of humanity, traveling extensively and facing all kinds of dangers completely without fear.
- A sannyasi is duty-bound to take all these risks without fear, and the most typical sannyasi of the present age is Lord Caitanya, who traveled in the same manner through the central Indian jungles, enlightening even the tigers, bears, snakes and deers.
- After being further trained, he accepts sannyasa. He is then a fully learned and renounced person who can move anywhere and everywhere without fear of being captivated by material desires.
- Vigata-bhir means without any fear. And brahmacari-vrate sthitah, without any sex life. A yogi cannot indulge in sex life. That is the first principle.
- If we remain strong in our own literature, we can meet anyone else without any fear.
The Eternal Fearless Realm
The ultimate goal of overcoming material fear is to enter the spiritual sky, where existence is eternal, full of knowledge, and blissful. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that by taking shelter of the Lord's lotus feet, the sincere yogī attains the kingdom of God, completely without fear.
- The yogis, equipped with transcendental knowledge and renunciation and engaged in devotional service for their eternal benefit, take shelter of My lotus feet, and since I am the Lord, they are thus eligible to enter into the kingdom of Godhead without fear.
- In the liberated state of affairs, the full-fledged affection for the Lord is awakened. As such, there is an unlimited flow of everlasting happiness, without the fear of its being broken as we have experienced here in the material world.
- They are happy in those planets and are without any kind of misery and they live perpetually in full youthfulness, enjoying life in full bliss and knowledge without fear of birth, death, old age or disease, and without the influence of kala, eternal time.
- They are neither in heaven nor in hell nor anywhere but with Krsna, so for them everything is Vaikuntha, without fear.
Conclusion
To conquer the fundamental anxiety of material existence, one must transfer their dependence from temporary material arrangements to the eternal Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that as long as a person identifies with the physical body, they will inevitably be haunted by the fear of death and loss. However, by embracing the process of pure devotional service, the soul awakens to its eternal nature and realizes that Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate protector. By fully surrendering to the Lord's will and performing one's duties without attachment, a sincere devotee safely crosses the turbulent ocean of material existence and enters the eternal, fearless realm of Vaikuṇṭha.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Without Fear. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.