Krishna Janmashtami

Quote from Maharishi on Krishna

Kumbha Mela, 1966

MAHARISHI: ...When we understand intellectually, when we can conceive of the Absolute as taking a form or if we conceive the form of the Absolute - it is like the ocean, the same water, silent water, springing up as a wave or some other things of the sea - they are different, but the same water rising up as a wave.

So, Incarnations (Avataras) are the same water, the same material, of the Absolute, appearing as a form. The same sap appearing as a leaf.

We are talking of the form of the Absolute - but in Gita Lord Krishna has made this point very, very clear. Bluntly he said 'The ignorant takes me to be taking a form. The unmanifested has taken a form, has manifested itself. This I am considered by the ignorant. That means even so I am in form, I am not manifested.`

The unmanifested in form, not manifested in form. The Absolute has not become relative. The unmanifested has not become manifested. Remaining absolute, it has assumed a form.

There is that caution given very clearly, that he has not become relative. Becoming relative means ceasing to be absolute. Becoming relative means ceasing to be this and becoming this. It is not becoming relative, it is remaining absolute, yet Absolute in form. And this is an Incarnation.
Absolute in form, that is free from any leshavidyaor any trace of avidya, ignorance. It is all enlightenment, truth, thetruth.

Not the cognition of truth on the level of remains of ignorance, avidya, no leshavidya, but pure truth incarnate. Vedanta incarnate, Vedanta is the unity of life in absolute Being, and that incarnating...

...Now this was the reason that the whole life story of Lord Krishna and all that is there, is for the people in CC to enjoy.

Coming to that level of omnipresent Being, those whose life is (like that of) Paramahansas, Jivan Muktas -those who are established in CC, one with Being, living the eternal Being in their day to day life - they only could possibly enjoy the reality of Lord Krishna and all his actions and all that (what) goes on around him. This is what he said: `My actions are divine`. Not even celestial, by far from, celestial comes in the relative field - this remains in the Absolute...

...Gopis are more than the Jivan Muktas. They are those impulses of the Absolute, Shrutis, on the level of the Absolute, assuming a form. The world around him (is) of the Absolute, impulses of the Absolute.

(Gopis are) the basis of the celestial, more than the celestial. Because they have nothing to do with the relative. They are the impulses of the Absolute and these are the Shrutis, the Vedic hymns. Vedic hymns are those Chhandas`s, are the impulses of the Absolute.

That's why the Vedas are said to be apaurusheya. Apaurusheyameans not pronounced by human speech, not pronounced by any human being. They are divine.

They just express the divine truth which forms the basis of all relative creation. They are expressions, each Chhandas`s.

They took form when the Absolute took form.

The whole field of Brindavan,all the boys of the cow herds and all the girls in the village - Gopiswere those Chhandas`s, those impulses of absolute Being, when the ocean of Absolute comes to dance, then in order to give rein to that divine dance, all the rhythm is from the impulses of the Absolute, ocean of Absolute.

And it was enjoyed by all the Jivan Muktas- the play between the Absolute and the impulses of the Absolute, Chhandas`s, Shrutis. Shrutisbecame the Gopis.

The element of the Gopisis just the same as the element of Lord Krishna, only Lord Krishna was there to represent the full, entire ocean of eternity. And the Gopiswere there to express the small part of it, the impulses of that ocean of the Absolute. On the basis of the impulses only can the ocean enjoy...

...not a matter of dashing against (the shore), but a matter of floating in and out of it. There was blending into it and yet coming out of it. Complete oneness, because the material was the same, everything the same material...

...The joy that Gopishad with Krishna was the joy the Gopishad with the Krishna - none could have that.

Jivan Muktasenjoyed Krishna on their level. Their relationship with Krishna was their relationship.

The relationship of the Gopiswith Krishna was just as if floating in and out in the same material. The waves create impulses on the ocean, just playing with the ocean itself. There was that eternal unity on the divine level which no human being, living on the level of leshavidya - avidya, that ignorance is there - that can't reach that. It is not possible for any trace of avidyato fathom that.

Gopiswere with Krishna and Krishna was with them - that inseparable unity and yet play in that divine. Play of the divine, in the divine, with the divine. Just like the waves of the ocean playing about or with the ocean.

Question: Can the Jivan Muktasof today enjoy the Absolute made in formor did one have to live at the time when the Absolute took form?

MAHARISHI: Only one has to live in that time, because otherwise how can one enjoy.

One could have the vision of Lord Krishna, but to have real vision of Him, one has to have that, because Lord Krishna means the transcendental reality coming on the level of the senses. That which transcends the field of the senses comes on the level of the senses.

And all the five senses at a time enjoy that unbounded Bliss. This is only possible when the consciousness is held on that level of CC - no restrictions, nothing, unbounded existence, unbounded intelligence, unbounded, unfathomable heart...

...and this celestial field, which is almost in tune with those impulses of the Absolute, they form the different deities of the chhandas`s.

Each chhandas has a deity to it. Gayatrichhandas has the gayatri,has that form of the mother, a particular form, a particular nature and all that. Every chhandas, every impulse has to it a deity of the celestial field. And from there, as the manifestation takes place further, then the world of the deity and then gross and gross and gross. Each chhandas, each impulse, has as a close association to it a particular deity and that is in the celestial form.

And that deity again has a world of his/ her or its own, whatever it is. And then the grosser than that and the world. This is how these chhandas`s form the basis of creation. Chhandas`s - close continuity of the different layers of creation.

Question: It is difficult to understand that the Absolute is taking form, because `form` is something we associate with the relative...

MAHARISHI: That is why Lord Krishnasays `The ignorant who takes me to be manifested`.The unmanifested manifesting itself is only held by the ignorant. The Absolute does not become relative. It does not manifest. Remaining absolute it appears as manifested. It is difficult to even put in words. Every sentence seems to be short in some corner...

...the earth from which the world comes out is the three gunas. Whereas the form of Lord Krishna has nothing to do with three gunas, remaining transcendental - no three gunas, no five elements, purely absolute.

Question: Is it possible to see Lord Krishna now for someone who has risen to that state. Or is Lord Krishna only in that specific time, when he comes, perceivable on the level of the senses and then also for the unenlightened on the gross level of the senses. They see him and not even know?

MAHARISHI: Yes, see and do not even know. There had been demons and all that and they have been fighting all the time. They didn't know him. And many having known said `Come on, I ll challenge you`. They had the pride of challenging the omnipresent. They enjoyed in that. Some played with him, some fought with him.

Question: Is the vision of him now impossible?

MAHARISHI: The vision of him is not possible now in that state. Whatever the vision, it is just on the celestial level. And celestial level is too gross for the real level of Lord Krishna.

And that is more or less the materialization of one's faith. In Gita Lord Krishna has said `Through intense devotion, one pointed devotion, unwavering devotion alone am I able to be seen like that, to be touched like that, to be penetrated into. That is on the faith of devotion. And devotion is more a thing of - apart from this great ability of this universal love and all that - faith and love.

And on the level of love it would more be a hypnotic state, I would say, but so very real to one, that it would just be a living reality for him. But for all practical purposes it could be called hypnotic.

Not the real experience of Krishna, because the real experience of Krishna would be only then when he comes. And it could be on that level of CC, Jivan Mukti. But even to the devotees he has appeared and was seen and he played with them and all that. All that on the basis of their devotion, their blinding devotion, nothing else but He and He and He. So He comes.

So even if it is a hypnotic state , it is blissful. But that has nothing to do with the reality of situation in creation. It is the reality of situation in creation in the sense that that happens also in accordance with the laws of nature. When that much intensified love, and that much intensified faith and that much intensified one pointedness of the mind and all that, then the thought will be materialized.But it is more a materialization of a thought than the actual reality of Lord Krishna`s incarnation.

Question: And a Yogi could not even go to that time, if he pleases, because one says, a yogi can go to any time?

MAHARISHI: That is alright

Question: So he could go to that time?

MAHRISHI: That is alright. That is alright. This is how the raasa, the play of Lord Krishna with the gopis is enjoyed by the yogis.

Question: How would he do that, by tapas?

MAHARISHI: Not by tapas. Again by gaining this ability of remaining in the Being and operating on that level, almost from that level ritam bhara pragya. If you want to see the raasa (dance of Krishna with the Gopis), then the raasacomes in all reality and then you enjoy it...

...on that level one could enjoy, but that joy will be in that ritam bhara pragya, materialization of the thought. In all reality of course. It won't be on this sensory level. Not be with the eyes open on Ramandeity of Brindavan…