Post by Uttamasloka on Jul 30, 2015 22:58:34 GMT -5
Here's an interesting consideration. 'Back to Godhead' is a core slogan for devotees. However, Krsna's bhauma-lila, which continues eternally in endless material universes, is technically not fully 'back to Godhead'.
The reason is this. Upon developing the first stage of prema after attaining the stage of bhava by practicing raganuga-bhakti, successful sadhakas thus become qualified to take birth in bhauma-lila from the womb of a nitya-siddha gopi, and thus attain their eternal spiritual body (vastu-siddhi) along with the full self-conception of their eternal identities in the complete context of Vraja lila.
There in Vraja, they grow up to their eternal ages, along with developing all the relevant relationships according to their chosen rasa/relationship. This also includes developing the full scope of their prema according to their rasa, in the direct company of Krsna and their associate Vraja-vasis, ie: sakhis or sakhas. After undergoing this final stage of perfection they are then qualified to enter the aprakata-lila, ie: the unmanifest eternal asta-kaliya-lila, which only takes place in the spiritual world of Goloka, and is somewhat different from bhauma-lila.
Entering the eternal asta-kaliya-lila in the spiritual world is therefore the real and full meaning of going 'back to Godhead'. But if devotees don't read about the asta-kaliya-lila, eg: Govinda-lilamrita and Krsna-bhavanamrta, etc, and learn the details of our ultimate desired destination, they have not yet fully comprehended the real and full and deep meaning of the slogan, 'back to Godhead'.
Here are some relevant references:
Krsna Book, Chapter 28:
The mature devotees, who have completely executed Kṛṣṇa consciousness, are immediately transferred to the universe where Kṛṣṇa is appearing. In that universe the devotees get their first opportunity to associate with Kṛṣṇa personally and directly. The training goes on, as we see in the Vṛndāvana-līlā of Kṛṣṇa within this planet.
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Raga-vartma-candrika, 2.7:
One may ask, “Why don’t you say that when the sādhaka attains the stage of prema and leaves his body, he will take a gopīka body in the spiritual world without taking birth from the womb of a gopīka, after which he manifests sneha and so on (ie: the higher levels of prema), there in that body through the association of the eternally perfect gopīs?”
The answer here is: “No, that will not happen, because then one cannot get a harmonious acquaintance according to the human-like pastimes there, like: ‘Whose daughter is this sakhī? Whose wife is she? Whose daughter-in-law is she?’
‘Alright then’ one may say, ‘Then what is the harm in taking birth in the aprakaṭa-līlā?’ Then the answer is no, that also cannot be. Sādhakas or materially conditioned souls cannot enter into the transcendental manifestation named Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma. Only perfected souls can enter it. Even through one’s own sādhana the moods of sneha and so on are not easily attained.
Therefore, those devotees for whom yoga māyā, for the sake of perfecting their moods like sneha and so on, arranges that prema is manifest in them after they take birth in Kṛṣṇa’s materially manifest pastimes in Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma, and before they attain Kṛṣṇa’s bodily association, they are taken to Kṛṣṇa’s materially manifest pastimes in Vṛndāvana.
Because practicing devotees, karmis, and perfected devotees can all be seen to enter into the materially manifest Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma, it is experienced as both sādhaka bhūmi and siddha bhūmi.
Then if you say, “Where will those most eager sādhakas stay after they attain prema and until they attain a gopīka body, after leaving their material bodies?”
Then I answer: “After the sādhaka body perishes, that loving devotee, who has eagerly desired direct devotional service for a long time, will at once, by the Lord’s grace, receive the gift of the desired service and the audience of the Lord and His eternal associates, just as He once bestowed direct audience to Nārada Muni.
He will give the sādhaka a transcendental gopīka body. Yogamāyā will make that body take birth from a gopīka mother in the manifest pastimes when Kṛṣṇa descends to earth with His eternal associates. There will not be a moment’s delay in that because the prakaṭa-līlā goes on without interruption. He will take birth in that material universe where Kṛṣṇa plays His manifest Vṛndāvana līlā at that time. Kṛṣṇa and His associates appear when the loving practicing devotee leaves his body.
Therefore, O greatly eager anurāgi devotees, don’t be afraid! Be at ease! All is auspicious for You!”
Krsna Book, Chapter 46:
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has given us a transcendental literary work entitled Krsna-bhavanamrta, which is full with Krsna's pastimes. Exalted devotees can remain absorbed in Krsna-thought by reading such books. Any book of krsna-lila, even this book, Krsna, or our Teachings of Lord Caitanya, is actually solace for devotees feeling separation from Krsna.
Govinda-lilamrita, 1.5:
All glories to Śrī Govinda-līlāmrta, the immortal nectar pastimes of Śrī Govinda, that defeats the nectar of the demigods, or the desire for liberation, constantly bestows a wonderful thirst to the ears, words and mind whenever it is drunk, that cures the disease of material life, yet produces delusions and blindness of loving intoxication, and gives inexhaustible relish, even if it is consumed again and again, nourishing even the body.
The reason is this. Upon developing the first stage of prema after attaining the stage of bhava by practicing raganuga-bhakti, successful sadhakas thus become qualified to take birth in bhauma-lila from the womb of a nitya-siddha gopi, and thus attain their eternal spiritual body (vastu-siddhi) along with the full self-conception of their eternal identities in the complete context of Vraja lila.
There in Vraja, they grow up to their eternal ages, along with developing all the relevant relationships according to their chosen rasa/relationship. This also includes developing the full scope of their prema according to their rasa, in the direct company of Krsna and their associate Vraja-vasis, ie: sakhis or sakhas. After undergoing this final stage of perfection they are then qualified to enter the aprakata-lila, ie: the unmanifest eternal asta-kaliya-lila, which only takes place in the spiritual world of Goloka, and is somewhat different from bhauma-lila.
Entering the eternal asta-kaliya-lila in the spiritual world is therefore the real and full meaning of going 'back to Godhead'. But if devotees don't read about the asta-kaliya-lila, eg: Govinda-lilamrita and Krsna-bhavanamrta, etc, and learn the details of our ultimate desired destination, they have not yet fully comprehended the real and full and deep meaning of the slogan, 'back to Godhead'.
Here are some relevant references:
Krsna Book, Chapter 28:
The mature devotees, who have completely executed Kṛṣṇa consciousness, are immediately transferred to the universe where Kṛṣṇa is appearing. In that universe the devotees get their first opportunity to associate with Kṛṣṇa personally and directly. The training goes on, as we see in the Vṛndāvana-līlā of Kṛṣṇa within this planet.
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Raga-vartma-candrika, 2.7:
One may ask, “Why don’t you say that when the sādhaka attains the stage of prema and leaves his body, he will take a gopīka body in the spiritual world without taking birth from the womb of a gopīka, after which he manifests sneha and so on (ie: the higher levels of prema), there in that body through the association of the eternally perfect gopīs?”
The answer here is: “No, that will not happen, because then one cannot get a harmonious acquaintance according to the human-like pastimes there, like: ‘Whose daughter is this sakhī? Whose wife is she? Whose daughter-in-law is she?’
‘Alright then’ one may say, ‘Then what is the harm in taking birth in the aprakaṭa-līlā?’ Then the answer is no, that also cannot be. Sādhakas or materially conditioned souls cannot enter into the transcendental manifestation named Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma. Only perfected souls can enter it. Even through one’s own sādhana the moods of sneha and so on are not easily attained.
Therefore, those devotees for whom yoga māyā, for the sake of perfecting their moods like sneha and so on, arranges that prema is manifest in them after they take birth in Kṛṣṇa’s materially manifest pastimes in Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma, and before they attain Kṛṣṇa’s bodily association, they are taken to Kṛṣṇa’s materially manifest pastimes in Vṛndāvana.
Because practicing devotees, karmis, and perfected devotees can all be seen to enter into the materially manifest Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma, it is experienced as both sādhaka bhūmi and siddha bhūmi.
Then if you say, “Where will those most eager sādhakas stay after they attain prema and until they attain a gopīka body, after leaving their material bodies?”
Then I answer: “After the sādhaka body perishes, that loving devotee, who has eagerly desired direct devotional service for a long time, will at once, by the Lord’s grace, receive the gift of the desired service and the audience of the Lord and His eternal associates, just as He once bestowed direct audience to Nārada Muni.
He will give the sādhaka a transcendental gopīka body. Yogamāyā will make that body take birth from a gopīka mother in the manifest pastimes when Kṛṣṇa descends to earth with His eternal associates. There will not be a moment’s delay in that because the prakaṭa-līlā goes on without interruption. He will take birth in that material universe where Kṛṣṇa plays His manifest Vṛndāvana līlā at that time. Kṛṣṇa and His associates appear when the loving practicing devotee leaves his body.
Therefore, O greatly eager anurāgi devotees, don’t be afraid! Be at ease! All is auspicious for You!”
Krsna Book, Chapter 46:
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has given us a transcendental literary work entitled Krsna-bhavanamrta, which is full with Krsna's pastimes. Exalted devotees can remain absorbed in Krsna-thought by reading such books. Any book of krsna-lila, even this book, Krsna, or our Teachings of Lord Caitanya, is actually solace for devotees feeling separation from Krsna.
Govinda-lilamrita, 1.5:
All glories to Śrī Govinda-līlāmrta, the immortal nectar pastimes of Śrī Govinda, that defeats the nectar of the demigods, or the desire for liberation, constantly bestows a wonderful thirst to the ears, words and mind whenever it is drunk, that cures the disease of material life, yet produces delusions and blindness of loving intoxication, and gives inexhaustible relish, even if it is consumed again and again, nourishing even the body.