A morning meditation

[madanmohandas]

Something from this morning.

tam vande gokulaanandam
nayanaananda sundaram/
raamena paramaanandam
govindam nandanandanam//

All hail to him, Gokula's supreme joy!
The eye's delight, the handsome cowherd boy;
The son of Nanda, Sri Govinda hight,
Who with his brother Rama takes delight.

(Preyo Bhakti Rasarnava. Nayananda Thakura)

Krishna coming to the dining hall for breakfast from Govinda Lilamrta.

Thus bathed, adorned, and variously dight,
Krishna appeared to give his friends delight;
With Balaram and Madhumangal, he
Shone with divine splendour and rare beauty.

The fond mother to each a seat consigns,
And Krishna's friends sit down in ordered lines,
Clean seats were laid in rows and tables spread,
And smoking incense fragrant odours shed;
Damp cloths were neatly on the tables laid,
With water in bright golden jugs conveyed.

Sridama and Subala take their place
On Krishna's left hand side, while face to face
Sits Madhumangala in vast delight,
And Balarama sits upon his right;
While all the other cowherd boys besides,
Seated, surround Krishna upon all sides.
GL.4.20-22

[Ldd]

Rasa tattwa I discovered as I read the Madhya CC this morning: I kind of knew it but got more clarification. Madhya 8 171 + Lord Chaitanya discussing with Ramananda. My undertanding:
The word sahajiya means natural and has nothing to do with perversion. Sahaje means that the gopis’ love is like this. It is inborn. Some writers have used the word sahajiya for sexual tantra and thus spoiled the intention of it. These people are better termed tantrics.
Kama means selfish desires. The gopis do not have that kama not does Krishna but He is known as Kamadeva for inciting love in his devotees with his arrows of flowers. The love with gopis is called kama because it appears similar, however there is no selfishness involved and it’s known as prema.
Gopi bhav is the basis of the madhurya bhav. Madhurya means the sweetest bhav and the sakhas also have sweet bhav, but gopi is the state of the lovers who unite with Him and it is not objectionable. A manjari is a bud who helps facilitate the love between the couple and receives bliss, this is also unselfish. Gopis are creepers of Radha - offshoots of her. They do not want to enjoy with Him but she sends them and that makes her happy. Remember the unselfish part which is a characteristic of this oceanic rasa. There is enjoyment between Him and the gopis. It is rasa and is pleasing to all. Gopis get watered (they are creepers) from the love sports of Radha and Krishna. They also arrange for Radha to meet with Krishna – and it is blissful for all.
Lord Chaitanya considered it to be the highest experience.