Character of One in Ecstatic Love 145

the offense is very serious, then one’s attachment becomes almost
nil, and if the offense is not very serious, one’s attachment can be-
come second-class or third-class.

If someone becomes attached to the principles of salvation or to
merging into the existence of the brahma-jyoti, his ecstasies gradually
diminish into shadow and para attachment or else transform into
the principles of ahangrahopdsana. This ahangrahopasana describes
a living entity when he begins‘ spiritual realization by identifying him-
self with the Supreme Lord. This state of self realization is technically
known as monism. The monist thinks himself one with the Supreme
Lord. Thus, without differentiating between himself and the Supreme
Lord, it is his view that by worshiping himself he is worshiping the
supreme whole.

Sometimes it is found that a neophyte is taking part in chanting
and dancing very enthusiastically, but within himself he is under the
impression that he has become one with the supreme whole. This
conception of monism is completely different from pure transcen-
dental devotional service. If, however, it is seen that a person has
developed a high standard of devotion without having undergone
even the regulative principles, it is to be understood that his status of
devotional service was achieved in a former life. For some reason or
another it had been temporarily stopped, most probably by commit-
ting an offense at the lotus feet of a devotee. Now, with a good sec-
ond chance, it has again begun to develop. The conclusion is that
steady progress in devotional service can be attained only in the asso-
ciation of pure devotees.

If one can gradually advance his status in devotional service, it is
to be understood that it is due to the causeless mercy of Krsna Him-
self. If a person is completely detached from material enjoyment and
has developed pure ecstatic devotion, even if he is sometimes acci-
dentally found not to be living up to the standard of devotional ser-
vice, one should not be envious of him. It is confirmed also in the
Bhagavad-gita that a devotee who has unflinching faith in and de-
votion to the Lord, even if he is sometimes found to be accidentally
deviated from pure devotional characteristics, should still be counted
amongst the pure. Unflinching faith in devotional service, in Lord
