Is guilt good or bad?

Most people agree that guilt is a negative emotion, and generally therapists would say that one should try and feel good about oneself and give up guilt. Krishna Consciousness takes a different approach to these so-called negative emotions.

"Rupa Gosvami says that as long as we are in this material world we have to act; we cannot cease acting. Therefore if actions are performed and the fruits are given to Krishna, then that is called yukta-vairagya." - B.g. 9.28p

From the relative viewpoint of material consciousness, guilt seems bad, but if we can step back and analyse the fruit of this consciousness we can properly classify it. If the guilt leads us towards Krishna, it is good. If it leads us into material consciousness it is bad.

For example, if we feel guilty about not chanting attentive rounds yesterday, and that leads us to chant attentively today, then that guilt helped us in Krishna consciousness and we are grateful. On the other hand, if guilt makes us want to withdraw from the association of devotees and take shelter in material pursuits, then that guilt is bad, and we don't take any notice of it.

In the Caitanya Caritamrita it is said that Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis felt guilty for being in the materialistic government, and this made them want to humbly surrender to the Lord's service. This is an example of guilty feelings leading to higher consciousness.

By using such seemingly negative emotions in the Lord's service one actually becomes cured of them, because they don't "disappear", but they become spiritualised. If we try to just negate such emotions, as some would suggest, they will continue to be there in an impure form, because it is the nature of our soul to have all these emotions in one form or another - the only choice we have is whether to have them in their pure or impure state.

Guilt - from Nectar of Devotion 29

When a person blames himself for committing an inappropriate action, his feeling is called guilt.
 

One day Srimati Radharani was churning yogurt for Krishna. At that time the jeweled bangles on Her hands were circling around, and She was also chanting the holy name of Krishna. All of a sudden She thought, "I am chanting the holy name of Krishna, and My superiors—My mother-in-law and My sister-in-law—may hear Me!" By this thought Radharani became overanxious. This is an instance of feeling guilty because of devotion to Krishna.

One day the beautiful-eyed Srimati Radharani entered into the forest to collect some flowers to prepare a garland for Krishna. While collecting the flowers, She became afraid that someone might see Her, and She felt some fatigue and weakness. This is an instance of guilty feelings caused by labor for Krishna.

There is a statement in Rasa-sudhakara that after passing the night with Krishna, Radharani became so weak that She was unable to get up from bed. When Krishna took Her hand to help Her, Radharani felt guilty about having passed the night with Him.