Love Is Only Possible With Kṛṣṇa
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the soul's deep yearning for connection and affection cannot be genuinely fulfilled within the material realm. True love is a spiritual transaction that can only be realized when one revives their eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By studying his profound instructions, we discover how dovetailing our consciousness with Kṛṣṇa transforms mundane existence into an eternal life of blissful reciprocation.
The Illusion of Mundane Love
In the material world, relationships are frequently driven by self-interest and bodily identification, which Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly defines as lust, or mahāmāyā. He emphasizes that this is merely a perverted reflection of spiritual reality. Authentic, selfless love is the exclusive domain of the spiritual energy (yogamāyā) and can only be genuinely experienced in a direct relationship with the Supreme Lord.
- Here the love is misrepresented in sex. That is not love; that is lust. Love is only possible with Krsna, nowhere else.
- Love is only possible with Krsna, nowhere else. Nowhere else love is possible. That is misrepresentation of love. That is lust. So love and lust. Love is yogamaya, and lust is mahamaya. That's all.
- That is real, and this is unreal. Just like shadow and reality. There is gulf of difference between the shadow and reality. So whatever love we see in this world, that love is only a perverted reflection of that real love with Krsna.
- The position of the gopis in their loving dealings with Krsna is transcendental. Although it is apparently like mundane sex, one should not confuse it with mundane sexual love, for it is pure and unadulterated love of Godhead.
The Ecstasy of the Gopīs
The gopīs of Vṛndāvana represent the absolute pinnacle of pure devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that these eternal associates of the Lord harbor absolutely no desire for their own sense gratification. Their minds are entirely saturated with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and their supreme happiness is derived solely from giving pleasure to Kṛṣṇa and seeing others engage in His loving service.
- Srimati Radharani and the gopis are not interested in their personal happiness derived from association with Krsna. Rather, they become happy by seeing one another associate with Krsna.
- Among the gopis, there is not a pinch of desire for sense gratification. Their only desire is to give pleasure to Krsna, and this is why they mingle with Him and enjoy with Him.
- Since the gopis are on the platform of pure transcendental knowledge, their minds are always filled with Krsna consciousness.
- When Krsna saw that the gopis were tired from dancing with Him, He immediately began to wipe His hands over their faces so that their fatigue would be relieved. In order to reciprocate the kind hospitality of Krsna, the gopis began to look at Him lovingly.
The Perfection of Reciprocation
When a conditioned soul escapes the frustrations of material life and fully surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, a dynamic spiritual exchange begins. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that engaging in pure devotional service awakens an incomparable rasa (mellow). In this transcendental state, the Supreme Lord Himself becomes a personal associate of the devotee, facilitating an eternal life of unending bliss.
- When there is reciprocation of transcendental dealings with Krsna, Krsna gradually becomes a personal associate of the devotee. Then the devotee eternally enjoys blissful life.
- The wonderful feelings of the gopis in ecstatic parama-rasa with Krsna constitute the greatest mystery in spiritual life - CC Adi 17.281.
- When one deals directly with Krsna, the mellow and the humor relished by reciprocation of devotional service is incomparable, even with the pleasure derived from transcendental Brahman.
- In the material world the perverted rasas bring frustration. If these rasas are reestablished with Lord Krsna, the result is eternal, blissful life.
The Supreme Equality and Protection
A pure Vaiṣṇava transcends the dualities of the material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that for someone fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the material designations of heaven and hell lose all meaning. Because the Supreme Lord is always with them, their consciousness is continuously situated in the spiritual realm, completely free from fear.
- A pure devotee regards heaven and hell to be on an equal level. Without Krsna, heaven is hell; and with Krsna, hell is heaven.
- A devotee has no distinction whether it is heaven or hell, because Krsna is with him either in heaven or hell. So where there is Krsna, there is no question of hell; it is Vaikuntha.
- They (those in Krsna Consciousness) are neither in heaven nor in hell nor anywhere but with Krsna, so for them everything is Vaikuntha, without fear.
- For a devotee, being situated in the heavenly planets and being in the hellish planets are equal, for a devotee lives neither in heaven nor in hell but with Krsna in the spiritual world.
Dovetailing Our Activities
Spiritual realization does not necessitate abandoning all practical duties. Instead, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches the art of dovetailing. By consciously linking our individual activities, desires, and intelligence with the supreme will of Kṛṣṇa, we transform ordinary work into perfect, liberating yoga, rising above the contaminating modes of material nature.
- If one understands that we are small particles of the Supreme Lord and our business is to dovetail our consciousness with His consciousness, that is perfect Krsna consciousness.
- As soon as we dovetail our activities with Krsna, or Krsna's activities, that is perfection. Jnanam yada apratihata, ahaituky apratihata. That is real activity.
- The supreme consciousness is Krsna, and when we dovetail our individual consciousness with the Supreme, we become perfect - but keep our individuality.
- To become above the material principles means to accept everything in Krsna consciousness, dovetailed with Krsna. That will save you. You have to become above the cloud.
The Ultimate Destination
The cycle of birth and death within the material universes offers no permanent shelter. Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that the ultimate goal of the human form of life is to qualify oneself to leave this temporary, miserable place. By developing pure love and attachment for the Lord, the soul is eventually promoted to Goloka Vṛndāvana to associate with Kṛṣṇa eternally.
- To go from this place to that place will not give eternal life. Eternal life is with Krsna. Therefore Krsna says, "Everything belongs to Me, and I have the superexcellent abode, which is called Goloka Vrndavana."
- Anyone who has understood that the material worlds are places of misery and temporaryness, they never return here again, and because they are mahatmanah, the great souls, Krishna keeps them with Him, having qualified themselves to escape this nasty place.
- When the Supreme Lord returns to His eternal abode, His associates return with Him to their respective places. As such, these ever liberated Vaisnavas are not bound by the material laws of birth and death.
- Those who develop conjugal love for Krsna as a lover are promoted to Goloka Vrndavana, to associate with the gopis and enjoy loving affairs with Krsna there.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that to be with Kṛṣṇa is the constitutional perfection of the living entity. While the material world offers only the illusory, frustrating shadow of love known as mahāmāyā, directly dealing with the Supreme Lord awakens our true spiritual nature. Whether one is engaged in active preaching, familial duties, or high philosophical meditation, simply dovetailing one's consciousness with Kṛṣṇa’s desires transforms daily life into an eternal, fearless existence in Vaikuṇṭha, ultimately leading the soul back to the highest spiritual planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category With Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.