We should not be disappointed in our muddy life of material
< existence, for aS soon as we voluntarily take to the devotional
| service of the Lord our whole life becomes clear, like water in
autumn. Devoid of our relationship with God our life is barren, but
as soon as the muddy mind is cleared by spiritual association or

cultivation of the human spirit the threefold miseries of material
life are at once cleared off. Thus the lotus of knowledge gradually
fructifies, and this gradual process of development ushers in
transcendental bliss.

The whole spiritual process is technically called yoga, or linking
with the Supreme. It is something like a long staircase, and the
upward steps are variously designated as regulated work, tran-
scendental knowledge, mystic powers, and ultimately bhakti-yoga,

; devotional service. Bhakti-yoga is pure and unalloyed, being en-

tirely beyond all the preliminary steps. Such unalloyed devotional

; service in favor of the Supreme Lord was displayed at Vrndavana
when the Lord descended there, and thus the yoga exhibited by
the gopis of Vmdavana is the highest unalloyed love of Godhead,

the perfection of bhakti-yoga. To rise to the stage of love shown
by the gopis is very difficult, but this stage is attainable for serious
conditioned souls.

Unfortunately, cheap neophytes make a show of the transcen-
dental ecstasies of the gopis, bringing them onto the mundane
plane for perverted manifestations and thus clearing the way to
hell by such unwanted caricatures. Serious students of yoga,
however, practice it seriously, and thus they attain the highest

b perfection in bhakti-yoga, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita.
.
} voginadm apt sarvesam
mad-gatenantaratmana
Sraddhavan bhajate vo mam
. sa me yvuktatamo matah
“And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith,
worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately
united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.” (Bg. 6.47)u
z° 82
