Page 29 - Lekha-mala (English)
P. 29
Posts to BVKS Sanga 19
The natural love of the gopis is devoid of any trace of lust. It is
faultless, bright and pure, like molten gold.
The gopis know Krsna’s desires, and they know how to render
perfect loving service for His enjoyment. They perform their
service expertly for the satisfaction of their beloved. (end of
extract)
Gaudiya Vaisnavas are trained to follow in the footsteps of the
gopis. This does not mean to imitate the gopis’ activities. Even
hearing exclusively about gopi-lilas is proscribed for neophyte
devotees, who due to lingering miscomprehension of the true
nature of enjoyment are likely to misconstrue the gopis’ love as
similar to material lust. Following in the footsteps of the gopis
is thus best done by first imbibing their mood of selflessness
and surrender, the level of which distinguishes them from even
other great devotees.
However if a neophyte devotee attempts to immediately negate
all personal desires, he is likely to fall down into material
lust. This is because by his nature the jiva must enjoy, either
materially or spiritually. Those who due to lingering material
contamination are not ready to enjoy on the topmost spiritual
platform should recognize their situation and imbibe the mood
of selfless service to Krsna, without attempting to imitate the
level of the gopis.
Devotees should cultivate enjoying seeing the form of the
Lord, honoring His prasada, engaging in His service in various
ways, and so on. In the beginning such enjoyment may be
mixed with polluted desires. But by continuing to serve and
by regularly hearing of Krsna’s position as the supreme and
ultimately only true enjoyer, the devotee gradually becomes
freed from all personal desires. Then he can actually enjoy
spiritual bliss. As stated in the extract from Sri Caitanya-