Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

Transcendental Love (June 7, 2009)

 

On the Sharad Purnima's full moon night, Bhagavaan Sri Krishna, began to play

His flute. On hearing the sweet sound, the melodious tune filled with charm and

attractive force, the Gopis in whatever state they were in, in that very state

they of inner impulse walked off to meet Sri Krishna. Here the state of Love was

so extraordinary, that the Gopis themselves had no idea who they were! Where

they were going! Why they were going! Everything about Bhagavaan (God) is

divine, it is unearthly, it is transcendental, it is blissful! Rather Lord's

flute is also divine, and it's sound, it's resonance too. That divine sound when

it was heard by the Gopis, they left all inertness, and becoming blissful

(attributes of Supreme Being), went off to meet the Supreme Bliss (Sri Krishna)!

 

In " Kaam " (worldly attractions and desires) - a woman and a man both

desire to seek happiness from each other. In attraction, they want to

draw the other towards themselves. Therefore in this there is extra

attentiveness and caution in adorning their bodies. However, in " Love "

there is not the least bit of sentiments to seek happiness from the

other, to attract and draw the other person towards themselves,

therefore this attentiveness and caution does not remain. Rather due to lack of

body consciousness, the Gopis forgot about adorning their

bodies, and on listening to the divine melody of the flute, they left as is,

clothes scattered and all over the place - " vyatyastavastraabh aranaah kaashcit

krishnaantikam yuyuh " (Srimad. 10/29/7)

 

At that moment, some Gopis were locked up by their husbands, sons,

brothers or other family members. Thus they were unable to find a way

out of the house. On not being able to leave the house, their state was such

that Sri Sukhadevaji Maharaja has said -

 

" Dukhsahpresthvirah teevrataapdhutaa shubhaah;

dhyaanpraaptaachyut aashleshnirvruty aa kshinamangalaah

tameva paramaatmaanam jaarbudhyayaapi sangataah

jahugurnamayam deham sadhyah praksheenbandhanaah " (Srimad.

10/29/10-11)

 

" In those Gopi's hearts the ever loving Krishna's unbearable separation caused

an intense burning longing. Due to this fire within, all their impurities were

burnt away, and the happiness gained from meditating on the embrace of their

beloved Sri Krishna, caused the destruction of all their inertness (association

with nature - prakriti).

 

" If those Gopis had any adulterous intentions for Sri Krishna, then too on

having a single-pointed exclusive relation with Paramatma (Sri

Krishna), their bondage immediately and entirely was destroyed, and they

renounced their bodies with qualities and attributes (modes of nature, gunas) "

 

While inquiring and contemplating on the above verses, if one

understands that the intense fire within the Gopi's arising due to

separation from Sri Krishna, destroyed their sins - " Dhutaashubhaah "

and due to their blissful state from turning their minds and

single-pointedly meditating on their Beloved, their virtues were also

destroyed " Ksheenmangalaah " . And in this manner they became free of all sins

and virtues (freedom from bondage), and went to meet Sri Bhagavaan, then there

appears to be a disconnect. As separation and union take place only on rising

above sins and virtues. The happiness and sorrow that comes from sins and

virtues is nature born(prakruti), but the happiness and sorrow (from union and

separation) related to Bhagavaan is not born of nature, rather it is

transcendental. The separation and union from Bhagavaan takes place after one

severs relationship with the modes of nature (gunas), whereas sins and

meritorious deeds are due to establishing a relationship with the modes of

nature (gunas). If there is no relationship with the gunas (modes of nature)

then sins and virtues cannot happen. To consider the happiness and sorrow (union

and separation) that arises from Bhagavaan's love as fruits of sins and virtues

is as such slandering it. On establishing a relationship with Bhagavaan, one

attains Union, not sensual enjoyments. Sensual enjoyments are due to sins. (Gita

3/37).