Descriptions of Autumn 141

Sometimes, in addition to the roaring thunder of the clouds, there is an
appearance of a rainbow, which stands as a bow without a string. Actually,
a bow is in the curved position, being tied at its two ends by the bowstring;
but in the rainbow there is no such string, and yet it rests in the sky so
beautifully. Similarly, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends
to this material world, He appears just like an ordinary human being, but
He is not resting on any material condition. In the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord
says that He appears by His internal potency, which is free from the bond-
ase of the external potency. What is bondage for the ordinary creature is
freedom for the Personality of Godhead. In the rainy season, the moon-
lisht is covered by clouds but is visible at intervals. It sometimes appears
that the moon is moving with the movement of the clouds, but actually the
moon is still; due to the clouds it also appears to move. Similarly, for one
who has identified himself with the moving material world, his actual
spiritual luster is covered by illusion, and with the movement of material
activities, he thinks that he is moving through different spheres of life.
This is due to false ego, which is the demarcation between spiritual and
material existence, just as the moving cloud is the demarcation between
moonlight and darkness. In the rainy season, when the clouds appear for
the first time, after seeing their appearance, the peacocks begin to dance
with joy. This can be compared to persons who are very harassed in the
materialistic way of life. If they can find the asseciation of a person engaged
in the loving devotional service of the Lerd, they beceme enlightened,
just like the peacocks when they dance. We have practical experience
of this, because many of our students were dry and morose previous to
their coming to Krsna consciousness, but having come into contact with
devotees, they are now dancing like jubilant peacocks.

Plants and creepers grow by drinking water from the ground. Similarly,
a person practicing austerities becomes dry; after the austere performances
are completed and he gets the result, he begins to enjoy life in sense grati-
fication, with family, society, love, home and other paraphernalia. Some-
times it is seen that cranes and ducks meander continually on the banks of
the lakes and rivers, although the banks are filled with muddy garbage and
thorny creepers. Similarly, persons who are householders without Krsna
consciousness are constantly tarrying in material life, in spite of all kinds of
inconveniences. In family life, or any life, one cannot be perfectly happy
without being Krsna conscious. Srila Narottama dasa Thakur prays that he
will have the association of a person—either a householder or a man in the
renounced order of life—who is engaged in the transcendental loving
service of the Lord and is always crying the holy name of Lord Caitanya.
