Trino; i am surprised at your description of the devotees being jealous of the birds? I did not read that at all? In fact, they describe them as "great sages and devotees", so in fact, they were much honored and the cowherds girls took the position of being their servants and inferiors, no? p 149 bottom ?
This whole chapter is rich in yogamaya, wonderful descriptions of joyous intimacy in bhakti, and no doubt the gopis are complex persons, simple and childlike yet eternal and wise.
I agree, Trino Ji, respects to you my friend and Krsna chaser, - yes, some degree simple jealousy is of course there, in tasteful degree. Cute and quaint and endearing. It is not a sign of materiality or distasteful in this case and similar others, as you rightly suggest. Good discussion!
Jaya, Haribol!
Re pancattava mantra; I constantly must take shelter even after a few years of chanting, otherwise i get punished with dry periods for my offenses.
It is a hidden fact that chanting Hare Krishna, for persons with material desires, they are fulfilled. Therefore, one must not comitt offenses in chanting, or one can be drawn away to fulfill material desires rewarded for offensive chanting. This aspect is not usually discussed much among new chanters lest they use the maha mantra and never approach pure bhakti. Therefore, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in "Haridas Thakur" has emphasized that neophytes should chant the panca tattva mantra. In the stage after nama-apradha, nama-abhasa, one is clearing offenses, one is gaining some bhavas and is advancing, then one achieves, at last !!, shuddha nama chanting, pure, and one has not material desires anymore to screw up the whole affairs. Of these stages, nama abhasa chanting is the most dangerous, as all one's ill desires can be fulfilled easily. Chanting gayatri is also like that, so one wants to give up all sinful activities and desire rightly to advance with no impediments, or at least , to be worthy-ish of mercy.
Replies
Trino; i am surprised at your description of the devotees being jealous of the birds? I did not read that at all? In fact, they describe them as "great sages and devotees", so in fact, they were much honored and the cowherds girls took the position of being their servants and inferiors, no? p 149 bottom ?
This whole chapter is rich in yogamaya, wonderful descriptions of joyous intimacy in bhakti, and no doubt the gopis are complex persons, simple and childlike yet eternal and wise.
I agree, Trino Ji, respects to you my friend and Krsna chaser, - yes, some degree simple jealousy is of course there, in tasteful degree. Cute and quaint and endearing. It is not a sign of materiality or distasteful in this case and similar others, as you rightly suggest. Good discussion!
Jaya, Haribol!
Re pancattava mantra; I constantly must take shelter even after a few years of chanting, otherwise i get punished with dry periods for my offenses.
It is a hidden fact that chanting Hare Krishna, for persons with material desires, they are fulfilled. Therefore, one must not comitt offenses in chanting, or one can be drawn away to fulfill material desires rewarded for offensive chanting. This aspect is not usually discussed much among new chanters lest they use the maha mantra and never approach pure bhakti. Therefore, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in "Haridas Thakur" has emphasized that neophytes should chant the panca tattva mantra. In the stage after nama-apradha, nama-abhasa, one is clearing offenses, one is gaining some bhavas and is advancing, then one achieves, at last !!, shuddha nama chanting, pure, and one has not material desires anymore to screw up the whole affairs. Of these stages, nama abhasa chanting is the most dangerous, as all one's ill desires can be fulfilled easily. Chanting gayatri is also like that, so one wants to give up all sinful activities and desire rightly to advance with no impediments, or at least , to be worthy-ish of mercy.