amanpeter

It's of no value unless you know what to do with it after you've got it. Get it, guys? ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

Everywhere, prabhu, ABSOLUTELY everywhere! Interesting that your question should appear on this particularly personal thread...

I feel more `hosed` than `hoser`, sorry to say. My completely original composition was horked up from the innermost depths of my disgust at the political situation in this country of my birth. Too late for us Canucks, but `God bless America`, our only hope, eh? Still `Land of the Free and Home of the Brave`... ------------------ No offense meant to anyone... [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 07-01-2001).]

My own version of our national anthem (remember, folks, you heard it first here!): `O CANADA` Oh Canada, My heart cries out for thee. Through liberal lies, You've lost your liberty, And now we stand Not hand-in-hand, Divided sea-to-sea; Each fighting for Some special rights, Instead of unity. Oh Canada, formerly so free, Oh Canada My heart cries out, For thee. Oh Canada My heart cries out, For thee! ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

What can compare? Well, this year I$kcon Toronto is offering hot-air balloon rides?! No word yet on who is supplying the hot air... ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

AGREED! Thanks, JnDas.

HARIBOL Tarun prabhu! Missed you--where ya been since VNN? valaya

HARIBOL Tarun prabhu! Missed you--where ya been since VNN? valaya

The Jews STILL don't accept Jesus Christ--so what? The proof is in TASTING the pudding. The trick is, we can only taste fully by feeding EACH OTHER and considering ALL others before ourselves. Then our own lives become the LIVING proof. JAI GAURANGA! JAI RADHE! [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 06-30-2001).]

I dunno, Dude...All that talk about my `cajones`, now `dancing` and `hard feelings`...gotta watch out for that kinda stuff here in T.O., especially with all the especially friendly fellas in town for their big parade! ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

As I understand it, `living God` means personal relationship BEYOND religion. Actually, Krsna prefers that we do NOT relate with Him as God, since that necessarily destroys intimacy. This unique position is available ONLY by the grace of Srimati Radharani and Her close girlfriends, whom we consider all Gaudiya-vaisnava acharyas to be. In fact, we are asked by Krsna to "Abandon ALL varieties of religion," are we not? Why then do the `trappings` of religion continue to be the main topic of discussion here? Do we truly believe that spiritual=religion? Should we not instead focus on "enlightening one another on My glories" as Krsna desires, and is His greatest glory not Srimati Radharani Herself? The question arises, do we really want a personal loving relationship with the `living God` and consequently each other, or are we after the `fruits` of religion, philosophical discussion, etc.? Your call, prabhus. JAI SRI RADHE! ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

From Satyaraj prabhu: "The Holy Name is so powerful that it MUST act, but when one utters the Holy Name with offenses, it's action will be delayed, not immediate, although in favorable circumstances the Holy Names of the Lord act very quickly." Cc. Antya 3.60 (Antya: 1, pp. 237-39)

From Satyaraj prabhu: "The Holy Name is so powerful that it MUST act, but when one utters the Holy Name with offenses, it's action will be delayed, not immediate, although in favorable circumstances the Holy Names of the Lord act very quickly." Cc. Antya 3.60 (Antya: 1, pp. 237-39)

I remember being on a stage some where with the devotees and Srila Prabhupada. We were all sitting while he spoke, then as he ended the public presentation and stood up, suddenly it was as if the entire floor where we sat had become electrified! Wild dancing or what! The difference as I see it is orchestration vs. spontaneity and sincerity as opposed to show. Here in Toronto it's often difficult to follow the maha-mantra and one well-known Indian kirtan leader is really more of a solo act. Still, others seem to be enjoying, so I guess the problem rests with me. I'm with Maitreya prabhu in appreciating simple steady chanting though, hopefully from the heart, that everyone is inclined and able to participate in. I do feel, too, that the dieties should be the focus of attention while they are visible, not a tight little circle of men who appear to be competing with each other in intensity. Once I even suggested as a joke to Bhakti Marg Swami that the bottom half of his dunda pole might be marked like a ruler so he could rate the jumpers! HARI HARIBOL!!! ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

Too true, prabhu!

Good one, MC prabhu! ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

Not all gopis are majaris and of those, not all are exclusively Radha-dasi manjaris or even in Radhika's camp. Rupanugas tend to be particularly inclined towards Srimati Radharani and are under the guidance of Lalita Devi.

Satyaraj prabhu, I regret having to say that you're completely `out to lunch`. One can only imagine what you may be eating! I could explain Srimati Radharani and Her sakhi-manjaris further, along with `love in separation`, but why encourage even more offensive misunderstanding? You appear to actually enjoy creating controversy, whatever the cost. Personally, I'd much rather make `love not war`, brother. JAI RADHE! ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

Satyaraj prabhu, I regret having to say that you're completely `out to lunch`. One can only imagine what you may be eating! I could explain Srimati Radharani and Her sakhi-manjaris further, along with `love in separation`, but why encourage even more offensive misunderstanding? You appear to actually enjoy creating controversy, whatever the cost. Personally, I'd much rather make `love not war`, brother. JAI RADHE! ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

Awe and reverence based on fear can stifle the natural expression of spontaneous emotion propelled by the desire for intimacy. Sometimes `Godness` interferes with love... ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

From a previous post by Dasanudas: ***If only we could live up to the above, even amongst ourselves, perhaps Shvu prabhu and others might take us a lot more seriously when they're being preached to... ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

From a previous post by Dasanudas: ***If only we could live up to the above, even amongst ourselves, perhaps Shvu prabhu and others might take us a lot more seriously when they're being preached to... ------------------ No offense meant to anyone...

From `Loving Search For The Lost Servant", by Swami B.R. Sridhar: Once, the Diwan of Bharatpur had come on a pilgrimage with his family to the holiest of places, Sri Radha-kunda, the holy lake of Srimati Radharani. He and his family were circumambulating Radha-kunda. They would fall flat on the ground, offering obeisances lying down with their arms outstretched. Every time they bowed down in this way, they would mark the spot where their fingertips touched the earth. Then they would slowly rise, step forward to where that spot had been marked, and again fall flat, offering their obeisances with great respect and adoration. In this way they were circumambulating the entire Radha-kunda. Upon seeing such intense worship, Paramananda Prabhu, an intimate disciple of our guru maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, intimated to Prabhupada that the Diwan and his family must have great respect for Radharani to circumambulate the Radha-kunda in such a fashion. At that time Prabhupada said, "Their angle of vision towards Radha-kunàa and Radharani and Radharani is different from ours. They recognize and revere Krishna. And because Radharani is Krishna's favorite, they also have some reverence for Radha-kunda. But our vision is just the opposite. Our concern is with Radharani. And ONLY BECAUSE SHE WANTS KRSNA DO WE HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH HIM." And so, the Gaudiya Vaisnavas know only Radharani. They are concerned only with HER, and HER duties, HER necessities. They are ready to serve HER in all respects, and cannot contemplate any service without HER. That is the highest achievement of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, that is the special feature of Mahaprabhu's party, and that was announced by Raghunatha Dasa Goswami in his Vilapa-kusumanjali (102): aßabharair-amùta-sindhu-mayaiè kathancit kalo mayatigamitaè kila samprataì hi tvaì cet kùpam mayi vidhasyasi naiva kiì me pranair vraje na ca varoru bakarinapi This verse is a direct prayer to Radharani. It expresses a particular type of hope which is so sweet and reassuring that it is compared with an unlimited ocean of nectar. He says, "There is a hope which is sustaining me and nurturing my existence. With that hope I am somehow passing my days, dragging my life through these tedious times. That nectarine ocean of hope is attracting me and keeping me alive. But my patience has reached its end. I can't endure it any longer. I can't wait any more. "At this moment if You do not show Your grace to me, I am finished. I shall lose my prospect forever. I shall have no desire to continue my life. It will all be useless. Without Your grace, I can't stand to live another moment. And Vrindavana, which is even dearer to me than my life itself--I am disgusted with it. It is painful; it is always pinching me. And what to speak of anything else, I AM EVEN DISGUSTED WITH KRISHNA. It is shameful to utter such words, but I can have no love even for Krishna unless and until You take me within Your confidential camp of service." This is the prayer of Raghunatha Dasa. When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada would begin to explain this verse, his figure would become transformed. He would become full of emotion; his face would become like that of a phantom. In this verse, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, taking an extreme risk, says, "O Radha, if I do not get Your favor, I don't want anything. I WANT YOU AND YOU ALONE. To have an independent relationship with ANYONE else, eliminating You, is impossible in my life. You must be first, and then others. Without You, we can never even think of a separate relationship with Krishna." Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja has written that without Radharani's company, Krishna is not beautiful. Everything is relative--dependent. A teacher depends on the student, and the student depends on his teacher. Although Krishna is the enjoyer, He is completely dependent on the enjoyed, Srimati Radharani. The two are correlative; one cannot be separated from the other. As the enjoyed, Radharani is also absolutely dependent on Krishna, the enjoyer. Radharani says, "My fate is lost forever because I have given Myself, I have sold Myself to many places. When I heard the flute, I dedicated Myself to the song of the flute. When I heard the name of Krishna, I dedicated Myself to that sound. And when I saw a beautiful picture of Krishna, I wholly dedicated Myself to that picture. So in three places I have sold Myself completely, with no possibility of any happiness or peace in My life. If I had dedicated Myself to only one thing, there might have been a possibility of peace, but because I have dedicated Myself in three different places, I am hopeless. "Seeing the picture of Krishna, I could't but give Myself to that beautiful figure, and so I dedicated Myself fully. The name of Krishna also purchased Me fully. And the sweet sound from the flute--that has also drawn Me to the extreme of dedication. So how can I hope for peace in My life? It is possible, My friends." Radharani did not know it at that time, but the source of Krishna's flute, His name, and His beauty are one. If She could have seen how all three of these meet together, then it would have been possible for Her to have peace of mind. But it is difficult to understand this principle. How is it that the sound of Krishna's flute, the sound of His name, and a picture of His form are nondifferent from Krishna Himself? Idealism. In Hegel's word, ideal realism. The absolute idea is not to be dismissed as an abstract thing; rather, it is the basis of all existence. Reality is there, but it is ideal realism. And the foundation of the reality of Vrindavana is given by Nityananda, Baladeva: nitaiyer koruna habe, braje radha-Krishna pabe, dharo nitai caraòa du'khani. After Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes the position of Radharani in his `Saranagati`, he says, "I want to serve those who have the service of Radharani in their heart. I want to serve the feet dust of those whose only wealth is the service of Sri Radha. I want to fall before them and take the dust of their holy feet. IF YOU CANNOT FIX YOUR MIND IN THE SERVICE OF RADHARANI, THEN ALL YOUR ATTEMPTS TO SERVE KRISHNA ARE USELESS. IF YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE EARNESTNESS IN THE SERVICE OF SRIMATI RADHARANI, THEN ALL YOUR LABOR FOR KRISHNA HAS GONE TO HELL." We cannot conceive of a sun without heat, nor can we conceive of Godhead without His potency. So also, no conception of Krishna is possible without Srimati Radharani. We can't know any Madhava without Radha. She is Krishna's other half--in Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's language, the predominated moiety. Devotional service as a whole is represented by Her, because both the intensity and the comprehensiveness of Her service to Krishna are unparalleled. There are so many examples of chaste and pious ladies in the ancient history of the Puranas: Saci, the faithful wife of Indra; Sati, the wife of Lord Siva; Laksmidevi, the Goddess of fortune; Satyabhama, Krishna's wife in Dwaraka; Rukmini, the principle queen of Krishna in Dwaraka; and even the antagonists of Radharani, headed by Candravali. All of them represent different aspects of Radharani. They all spring from the main potency which is known as Radha. JAI JAI SRI RADHE!!! [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 06-21-2001).]

More from `Sri Gita-mala: SONG THREE --- ENTRANCE INTO THE GROUP OF LALITA SAKHI (1) heno hale habe, bilasa manjari, ananga manjari ar amare heriya, ati krpa kori', bolibe bacana sar When, at such a time, will Wilasa Manjari and Ananga Manjari come along on the same foot-path and, seeing me in this completely insane condition, will speak to me the sweetest essence of words? (2) eso, eso, sakhi ! sri-lalita-gane , janibo tomare aj grha-katha chari', radha-krsna bhajo, tyajiya dharama-laj They will say, "Come, come, sakhi!Our very dear friend! From now on you will be counted amongst the attendants of Sri Lalita Sakhi! Giving up your household concerns and fear of religious principles, just come along with us now and worship Sri-Sri Radha-Krsna!" (3) se madhura vani, sunya e jana, se dunhar sri-carane asraya loibe, dunhe krpa kori', loibe lalita-sthane Hearing such sweet words, I will unhesitatingly take shelter of the lotus feet of both these sakhis, and they will then show me their merciful favor by catching my hand and bringing me into the prresence of Sri Lalita Sakhi. (4) lalita sundari, sadya hoiya, koribe amare dasi swapkunja-kutire, sdibena basati, jani' seba-abhilasi Then the most beautiful and charming Lalita Sakhi will behave very graciously towards me and will accept me as one of her own maidservants. She will take me and give me a residence in a small cottage in her own garden, knowing me to be intensely desirous of rendering eternal service. SONG FOUR --- TRAINED UP BY SAKHIS (1) palya-dasi kori', lalita sundari, amare loiya kabe sri-radhika-pade, kale milaibe, ajna-seba samarpibe When will Lalita Sundari foster me as her own aspirant novice maideservant? Then later she wil offer me up unto the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, and will place me entirely at Her disposal for rendering various services according to Her own merciful orders. (2) sri rupa manjari, sange jabo kabe, rasa-seba-siksa-tare tad-anuga ho'ye, radha-kunda tate, rohibo harsitantare When will Sri Rupa Manjari take me along with herself to the banks of Sri Radha-kunda to give me lessons in the performance of services to the transcendental mellows? She will take me there and make me practice by following her instructions and movements. Thus I will pass my time feeling great delight within my heart. (3) sri visakha-pade, sangita sikhibo, krsna-lila rasamoy sri rati manjari, sri rasa manjari, hoibe sabe sadoy At the lotus feet of Sri Visakha I will learn music and songs which are all abounding in the transcendental mellows of Krsna's pastimes. All of the other sakhis in our group, including Sri Rati Manjari and Sri Rasa Manjari, will also share their most kind and affectionate dealings with me. (4) parama anande, sakale miliya, radhika carane rabo ei parakasta, siddhi kabe habe, pabo radha-padasaba All of us will mneet together, feeling the greatest supreme bliss, and we will remaing by the lotus feet of Sri Radhika. When, oh swhen will there be this highest excellence of the culmination of spiritual perfection, whereby I will receive the intoxicating honey flowing from the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani? SONG 5 --- ECSTASY AT SRI RADHA-KUNDA (1) cintamani-moy, radha-kunda-tata, taha kunja sata sata prabala bidruma- moy taru-lata, mukta-phale abanata The banks of Sri Radha-kunda are made of billions of conscious, ecstatic desire-fulfilling touchstones, and surrounding the lake are hundreds and hundreds of beautiful transcendental gardens and groves. All the trees and creepers in those gardens are made of coral and rubies, and the fruits they produce are diamonds and pearls. And their branches are bending down to the ground due to being overburdened with millions of these lovely gems. (2) swananda-sukhada, kunja manohara, tahate kutir sobhe basiya tathay, gabo krsna nama, kabe krsna-dasya hobhe My small cottage is shining beautifully within that most enchanting garden called Svananda-sukhada-kunja. Living there, I will sing Krsna's holy name, and I will greedily hanker for that time when I will get the service of Him and His associates. (3) emon samoy muralir gan, pasibe e dasi-kane ananda matibo, sakala bhulibo, sri-krsna-vamsir gane At this time, while thinking like this, the songs of a transcendental flute will suddenly enter this maidservant's ear. Becoming madly excited by such a sound, I will forget everything and will only listen spellbound to those wonderful songs of Sri Krsna's flute. (4) radhe radhe boli', murali dakibe, madiya iswari nama suniya camaki, uthibe e dasi, kemon koribe prana The low, deep sound of His long murali flute will call out, "Radhe. . . Radhe. . ." --- the very name of my only worshipable Empress and Maharani! Startled with wonder by hearing such a sound, this maidservant will then stand up in great haste with an anxious heart, wondering what to do next. SONG 6 --- THE FIRST CHANCE FOR SEVA (1) nirjana kutire, sri radha-carana, smarane thakibo rata sri rupa manjari, dhire dhire asi, kohibe amaya kota In my solitary cottage, I will constantly remain absorbed in the remembrance of Sri Radha's lotus feet. By and by, I will see Sri Rupa Manjari slowly approaching. Coming up to me, she will then begin saying some very nice things to me. (2) bolibe o' sakhi! ki koro basiya, dekhaha bahire asi' jugala milana-sobha nirupama, hoibe carana dasi She will say, "Oh sakhi! My dear friend, what are you doing sitting here? Just come outside here and look --- just see Who is coming! The Divine Couple will now perform Their splendors, unparalleled transcendental meeting, and today you will be one of the maidservants at Their lotus feet!" (3) swarasiki siddhi, braja-gopi dhana, parama-cancala sati jogir dheyana, nirvisesa jnana, na paya ekhane sthiti The perfections of their personal mellows which are individually exhibited by each of the gopis of Vraja are all the real treasures of Vrndavana, and these individual moods are intelligently fickle and chaste. The so-called meditations of the yogis, or the impersonal speculations of the Brahmavadis cannot get any foothold within the realm of such transcendental mellows as those which are naturally exhibited by the gopis. (4) saksat darsana madhyahna lilaya, radha-pada-sevarthini jakhana je seva, koroho jatane, sri radha-carane dhani Seeing Them personally coming and performing Their midday pastimes there at Radha-kunda, I have become very much desirous to serve the lotus feet of Sri Radha. And whenever I get the opportunity to render some small service, I will perform that service with the greatest care and attention, and I will thus become rich with the treasure of Her lotus feet. SONG 7 --- THE GLORIES OF SRI RADHA-KUNDA (1) sri rupa manjari kabe madhura bacane radha-kunda mahima barnibe samgopane When will Sri Rupa Manjari speak to me with such sweet words in a private place, vividly explaining to me the transcendental glories of Sri Radha-kunda? (2) e caudda bhuvanopari vaikuntha niloy tad-apeksa mathura parama sresta hoy "Beyond these fourteen worlds is the spiritual abode of the Vaikuntha planets. And beyond that, the area known as Mathura is the topmost and supreme abode." (3) mathura-mandale rasa-lila sthana jatha vrndavana sresa ati suno mama katha "Within that Mathura-mandala, the place known as Vrndavana is best of all, for that is where the rasa-lila takes place. Please hear me now as I narrate these glories." (4) krsna-lila-sthala govardhana srestatara radha-kunda srestatam srava-sakti- dhara "Out of all the places in Vrndavana where Krsna performs His pastimes, the place known as Govardhana is best. And the best place in Govardhana is Radha-kunda, which possesses all transcendental potencies." (5) radha-kunda-mahima to' koriya sravan lalayita ho'ye ami paribo takhan Whenever I hear the glories of this sacred Radha- kunda, I become sized with such an eager yearning that I will swoon and fall down on the spot. (6) sakhir carane kabe koribo akuti sakhi krpa kori' dibe swarasiki sthiti When will I ever become so intensely eager for the lotus feet of a sakhi, which will make her so obliged to me that she will mercifully bestow upon me permanent situation in my own natural eternal mellow? SONG 8 --- SIDDHA-DEHA (1) barane tarit, basa tarabali, kamala manjari nama sare bara barsa, bayasa satata, swananda-sukhada-dhama This maidservant has a complexion just like lightning, and she is wearing a sari which has star like decorations all over it. My name is Kamala Manjari. Eternally appearing to be only twelve-and-a-half years of age, I always live within the abode of Svananda-sukhada-kunja. (2) karpura seba, lalitar gana, radha juthesvari hana mamesvari-natha, sri nanda-nandana, amar parana dhana I render the service of preparing the camphor within the assembly of Lalita Sakhi, of whom Sri Radha is the leader and the center of all their activities. And the Lord of my mistress Radha is the delightful Son of Nanda Maharaja, Who is also the treasure of my life. (3) sri rupa manjari, prabhrtir sama, jugala sebaya asa abasya se-rupa, seba pabo ami, parakasta su-biswasa I always desire to execute conjugal service similar to that which is rendered by Sri Rupa Manjari and her associates. Thus I will certainly get utmost conviction and faith. (4) kabe ba e dasi, samsiddhi labhibe, radha-kunde basa kori' radha-kunda-seba, satata koribe, purba smrti parihari' When will this maidservant thus attain such complete spiritual perfection, living by the banks of Sri Radha- kunda? I will eternally serve Radha and Krsna, and all of my previous memories will be automatically forgotten. SONG 9 --- THE MOOD OF A MANJARI (1) brsabhanu-suta-carana sebane, hoibo je palya-dasi sri radhar sukha, satata sadhane, rohibo ami prayasi For serving the lotus feet of the charming daughter of King Vrsabhanu, I will become a sheltered maidservant of Her maidservant. Indeed, I will live only for the happiness of Sri Radha, and I will always endeavor to increase Her joy. (2) sri radhar sukhe, krsner je sukha, janibo manete ami radha-pada chari', sri krsna-sangame, kabhu na hoibo kami I will understand within my heart that Krsna feels happiness only when Radha is happy. I will thus never, ever dare become desirous of abandoning Radhika's lotus feet to be with Krsna myself. (3) sakhi-gana mama, parama suhrt, jugala-premer guru tad-anuga ho'ye, sebibo radhar, carana kalpataru All my associates sakhis are my supreme well-wishers, my best friends, and they are the teachers of my lessons in conjugal love. Simply by following them, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha, which are just like desire-fulfilling trees. (4) radha-paksa chari', je jana se jana, je bhave se bhave thake ami to' radhika-paksapati sada, kabhu nahi heri ta'ke I am forever partial and prone to favoring the party of Sri Radhika. I will never even look upon those persons who have abandoned Her entourage, whoever they may be and regardless of what they preach. SONG 10 --- THE ULTIMATE PERFECTION (1) sri krsna-birahe, radhikar dasa, ami to' sahite nari jugala-milana-sukher karana, jibana charite pari Whenever Radha is suffering in separation from Krsna, and I am unable to give any solace, my heart breaks for I am unable to tolerate seeing Her condition so pitiful. Then I am fully prepared to give up my life for the sake of Their happy reunion. (2) radhika-carana, tyajiya amar, ksaneke pralaya hoy radhikar tare, sata-bara mari, se duhkha amar soy If I were ever to give up the lotus feet of Sri Radhika, I would become totally devastated in an instant. For Her sake, I am prepared to tolerate the pain and the agony of death hundreds of times. (3) e heno radhar, carana-jugale, paricarja pa'bo kabe haha braja-jana, more doya kori', kabe braja-bane lo'be When will I be able to serve such a divine pair of lotus feet as Radha's? Alas, I beg you all, oh residents of Vraja, please be merciful to me now! When will you take me int the transcendental forests of Vrndavana? (4) bilasa manjari, ananga manjari, sri rupa manjari ar amake tuliya, loho nija pade, deho' more siddhi sar Oh Vilasa Manjari! Oh Ananga Manjari! Oh Rupa Manjari! Please lift me up and bring me close to your own lotus feet, thus bestowing upon me the quintessence of eternal spiritual perfection! Thus ends Chapter Five of GITA-MALA, entitled "SIDDHI- LALASA", by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura I will serve the lotus feet of Radha, which are just like desire-fulfilling tree.

From `Sri Gita Mala`, by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur (trans. Dasaratha-suta das, Nectar Books): EIGHTEEN --- THE PROCESS OF BECOMING ONE OF RADHA'S GIRLFRIENDS Amongst the five divisions of Radharani's sakhis, four of these groups are nitya-siddha, or eternally situated in their roles. They did not have to perform any ritualistic sadhana to achieve their position. The fifth division known as "sakhi" consist of new gopis who have attained residence in Vraja by dint of their sadhana practice. These sakhis are also of two varieties --- those still situated in their sadhana practice as sadhaka manjaris, and those who are already situated in their spiritual bodies beyond the rules of sadhana. Thus those who attain perfection receive the body of a gopi and continuously worship the Divine Couple in spontaneous love. There are many great saints and devotees as well as the personified Upanishads themselves who are all attracted by Lord Krsna, but who haven't accepted the topmost perfection of receiving the form of a gopi. Although they are all definitely absorbed in their regulative worship of the Lord, their eternal spiritual perfection still doesn't awaken fully, because attainment of the mood of Vraja is a very uncommon and rare perfection. But it is heard from authoritative sources that there are some great souls who execute their worship in the mood of the gopis, catching a firm grip on the lotus feet of one of Radharani's girlfriends. Then, by the power of that nitya- sakhi's affectionate favor, one ultimately attains a residential place in that sakhi's own abode, where she eternally spends her time waiting on the Divine Couple Sri Radha and Sri Hari. Thus one becomes one of Radharani's eternal girlfriends just to be able to render eternal service to the pleasure of Krsna within the same abode of another sakhi. This is all due to voluntarily accepting the mood of that sakhi. This is actually the only real law which allows one entrance into Vraja --- that is, without the favor on another merciful gopi, it is absolutely impossible for anyone to enter into the ecstatic eternal service of the ecstatic eternal Lovers. - ref. Ujjvala-nilamani chapter 3 - EIGHTEEN panca-sakhi madhye cara, nitya-siddha radhikar, se sakale sadhana na koilo sakhi boli' ukta jei, sadhana-prabhave tei, braja-raja pure basa pailo sei sakhi dviprakara, sadhanete siddha ara, sadhana-para boliya ganana siddha boli' akhya tanra, gopi-deha hoilo janra, kori' rage jugala-bhajana krsnakrsta muni-jana, tatha upanisad-gana, je na loilo gopir svarupa sadhana avese bhaje, siddhi tabu na upaje, braja-bhava-prapti aparupa je je sruti muni-gana, gopi haya su-bhajana, korilo skhir pada dhori' nitya-sakhi-krpa-bale, tat-salokya-labha-phale, seva kore sri-radha-sri-hari devi-gana sei bhave, sakhir salokya-labhe, krsna-seva kore sakhi ho'ye vrajer-vidhana ei gopi bina ar keho, na paibe vraja-juva-dwaye NINETEEN --- THE MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP SHARED AMONGST ALL THE SAKHIS Lord Hari is the Supreme form of consciousness, and His potency is the Mistress of the Vrndavana forest. All the Vedas sing about Her being the transcendental internal potency (para-sakti). To render service to Him Who is the potential source of all potencies, She expands Her internal potency into many bodily forms, with numerous different types of potencies flowing out and spouting from the energetic source in all directions simultaneously. Her internal potency is the abode and container of all potencies, and it invokes the other divisions called sandhini, samvit, and hladini. With its sandhini existence potency it transform to produce all things of substance within the spiritual and material worlds. With its samvit cognizant potency it produces all knowledge, which has a marginal sector called jiva-sakti, the multitude of conscious spirit souls. With its hladini pleasure potency, the assembly of Radha's girlfriends are produced and enlivened. The topmost divine wealth of the hladini pleasure potency is the multitude of Her girlfriends, who are all eternally perfect in spiritual bliss. And the original root cause and primeval source of this hladini-sakti is none other than Srimati Radharani Herself, Who is the embodiment of this supreme pleasure potency. Even the other apparently opposing gopis, headed by Candravali are all actually subordinate followers of this transcendental Goddess Sri Radha, for the fact is that no one can possibly obstruct the gushing flow of Her pure selfless divine love for Lord Krsna. The wonderful, unique movement of Their loving affairs is such that Candravali appears to oppose and rival Radharani, but this simulated competition is actually chaste, for it is meant to nourish Radharani's pure love for Krsna. Indeed, all the sakhis possess many different bodies and many different moods, but their mind is factually one and one only, for their sole, mutual interest is to give complete satisfaction and total pleasure to the youthful Divine Couple of Vraja. NINETEEN parama caitanya hari, tanra sakti banesvari, para sakti boli' vede gay saktimane sevibare, sakti kayavyuha kore, nana sakti tahe bahiray adhara-saktite dhama, ahvaya saktite nama, sandhini-saktite bastu jata samvit-saktite jnana, tatastha jiba-vidhana, hladinite koilo sakhi-brata nitya-siddha sakhi saba, hladinir su-vaibhava, hladini-svarupa mula radha candravali adi jata, sri-radhar anugata, keho nahe radha-premer badha premer vicitra gati, prati-dvandvi ho'ye sati, candra kore radha-prema pusta saba sakhir eka-mana, nana-kaye nana-jana, braja-juva-dvandve kore tusta ***Dear prabhus, Please let me know if the Sanskrit(?) is not correctly matched with the English and I'll remove or correct it. [This message has been edited by amanpeter (edited 06-20-2001).]