144 The Nectar of Devotion

service or without being guided by a bona fide spiritual master, shows
such imitative attachment, it is called shadow attachment. Some-
times it is found that a person actually attached to material enjoy-
ment or salvation has the good fortune to associate with pure devo-
tees while they are engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord.
By the good grace of the Lord one may also cooperate and join in the
chanting. At that time, simply by the association of such pure devo-
tees, the moonlike rays from their hearts reflect on him, and by the
influence of the pure devotees he may show some likeness of attach-
ment caused by inquisitiveness, but this is very flickering. And, if by
the manifestation of such shadow attachment one feels the disap-
pearance of all material pangs, then it is called para attachment.

Such shadow attachment or para attachment can develop by
associating with a pure devotee or by visiting holy places like Vrn-
davana or Mathura; or if an ordinary man develops such attachment
for Krsna and fortunately performs devotional activities in the asso-
ciation of pure devotees, he can also rise up to the platform of pure
devotional service. The conclusion is that transcendental attachment
is so powerful that even if such attachment is seen manifested in
some common man, by the association of a pure devotee it can bring
one to the perfectional stage. But such attachment for Krsna cannot
be invoked in a person without his being sufficiently blessed by the
association of pure devotees.

As attachment can be invoked by the association of pure devotees,
so attachment can also be extinguished by committing offenses at
the lotus feet of pure devotees. To be more clear, by the association
of pure devotees attachment for Krsna can be aroused, but if one
commits offenses at the lotus feet of a devotee, his shadow attach-
ment or para attachment can be extinguished. This extinguishing is
like the waning moon, which gradually decreases and at last becomes
darkness. One should therefore be very careful while associating with
pure devotees to guard against committing an offense at their lotus
feet.

Transcendental attachment, either shadow or para, can be nullified
by different degrees of offenses at the lotus feet of pure devotees. If
