The Teaching Through Strange Behaviors
As Lord Rsabhadeva wandered through the kingdoms and forests in his apparent state of spiritual intoxication, his strange behaviors and unconventional activities attracted increasing attention. Some people, recognizing the supreme nature of his consciousness despite his outward appearance, approached him as a spiritual master and received teachings of tremendous value. Others, unable to perceive beyond his external conduct, dismissed him as mad and avoided him. This duality in how he was perceived by different classes of beings became itself a teaching—it demonstrated that spiritual realization is invisible to material perception and can be recognized only by those with purified consciousness.
Rsabhadeva's behaviors included activities that seemed to violate all conventional morality and respectability. He would sometimes appear drunk, sometimes would engage in behaviors that resembled sense gratification, sometimes would accept no food for extended periods while at other times he would consume whatever was available. Those observing these behaviors with limited understanding would conclude that he had become degraded or had abandoned all spiritual principles. However, those with sufficient understanding recognized that Rsabhadeva was demonstrating the complete independence of consciousness from circumstances and the possibility of maintaining perfect spiritual awareness while appearing to the world in any form whatsoever.
Through his seemingly irrational behaviors, Rsabhadeva taught a critical spiritual lesson—that all material actions, whether considered virtuous or sinful by conventional standards, are ultimately insignificant if they are not performed in consciousness of the Supreme Lord. He demonstrated that one who has achieved perfect spiritual understanding can move through the material world in any way without being affected by the material consequences of those actions. He showed that genuine spirituality is not merely external conduct that follows conventional standards, but is rather a fundamental transformation of consciousness that results in perfect freedom from all material bondage.
During his wanderings, Rsabhadeva would sometimes pause to speak with sincere seekers who recognized his supreme nature. At these times, he would reveal profound spiritual truths and provide guidance specifically suited to the individual consciousness of each person who approached him. Some received elaborate philosophical teachings about the nature of the soul and the Supreme. Others received instructions about the path of devotional service. Still others received teachings through his silence or through witnessing his conduct. Each person received exactly what was needed for their spiritual advancement at that particular stage of their development.
Maitreya explained to Vidura that Rsabhadeva's strange behaviors and the reactions of different classes of people to his conduct represent a universal principle—that spiritual truth is perceived differently by people at different stages of consciousness development. What appears as madness to the materially absorbed appears as the highest wisdom to the spiritually advanced. What seems like moral transgression to the conventionally righteous appears as perfect dharma to those who understand spiritual principles. Rsabhadeva's life demonstrates that genuine spirituality transcends conventional judgments and exists on a level beyond the reach of material assessment.
This chapter teaches that spiritual development often requires releasing conventional standards and enduring judgment from those who do not understand. It demonstrates that the highest spiritual consciousness manifests in complete freedom from concern with social approval or material reputation. Those who are genuinely seeking spiritual truth must be prepared to recognize that the path may lead them beyond conventional respectability and into territories where the material world's standards of judgment become irrelevant. The goal is not to gain the approval of the material world, but to achieve perfect consciousness of the Supreme Lord, which is the source of all true fulfillment and eternal happiness.