Today I received this message:
Sorry if I am not giving you additional but I think you are one of the authority on this topic. This question was posed on a forum today:
Radhe!!
Yesterday I had a talk with a nice devotee who is pretty familiar with (Ananta Das) Babaji Maharaja´s books. He told me hat he was very very disturbed about the fact that Krishna actually has sexual intercourse with many many gopis who are between 11 and 13 years and that He only thinks of this to whole day. He said that he is totally uncomfortable with believing in "this aspect" of his deity, since (his words) here in this world we go to jail for having intimate relationships with persons under the age of 18. And he said: "Don't come with the "all-is-transcendental"-argument...
Since I am totally in maya, I could not say anything. In fact, I was feeling uncomfortable too. Any help???
This is a very basic question. The answer is given nicely by A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmijī in his books - this is the exchange of the Supreme Lord with His internal transcendental pleasure potency, which externally looks like a sexual affair of teenagers. And I DO come with the 'its-all-transcendental' argument, because it IS. Another correction which is needed is: The gopis are not 11-13, mañjarīs are of that age, but sakhīs, with the exception of Anaṅga Mañjarī, are 14. Most girls in the west, regardless of the age of consent, are either coveting boys or are already engaged with them at the age of 14. Vedic culture has girls married at such a young age exactly for that reason. Our friend's friend has no idea of Vedic culture and no idea of Vaiṣṇava theology either, so it is better he takes shelter of a sat Guru who will show him the light before he starts reading the most intimate literature in connection with Kṛṣṇa. Without a proper foundation of siddhānta (philosophy) there can be no real understanding of rasa or līlā. Again, it makes me feel uncomfortable at publishing these intimate books....
I fully agree with your answer. And I think it makes all the more clear why my spiritual grandfather, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarawati Thakur, emphasized it to respect these scriptures from a distance until one has the qualification. When one is sincere, understanding and qualification will come. Anyway, you know all these things and I am not in the position at all to preach to you and I don't want to either. In my understanding all that my grandfather tried to do, seeing and forseeing the situation, was cherishing The Divine Couple and let others be able to do that as well. The Lord of our hearts has a Sublime Private Life which is nobodies business. Only the ones properly invited can have a peek and discuss it carefully and privatly.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not yet belong to those fortunate ones. I am a far too sensual and egotistical person and therefor I check my curiosity in these matters. I do know though that I don't like it if my own little private life is on the streets and then prone to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. So this in mind, I think we should treat The Sublime Private Life of The Divine Couple with as much loving discretion as possible. Don't get me wrong,
I do think these confidential scriptures should be preserved, honored and nicely printed in small amounts though. Of course. And naturally anyone with proper understanding, not patented by this or that line of succession, can be able to take up that most intimate service. The distributer than carries some responsibility to whom he distributes. I actually don't like the word distribute in this context. The distributer should be called a guardian and act as such. Yours,lovingly and supportingly