nn 1,2

1.1.2 devotional

Mi'ra'ba'i' was a small girl when first Krishna came to her. Do you know what He said? He said 'Mirabai My daughter, I am waiting for your. I have come to be your Lord and husband. You will not take another as I alone will fill all of your needs. So my girl come to Me and never think of anyone else. ' So Mi'ra'ba'i' devoted her life to Lord Kris'n'a. She would not marry, except in name. She would not put on the royal gown. She would only call to Kris'n'a thinking of nothing but Him, ever wishing for His love and none other. Needless to say, the family was quite upset. They did not like this Kris'n'a of hers. They said 'Mi'ra'ba'i' you are such a girl, we cannot have this nonsense. You will marry and act properly or else we will not have you.' So they treated her very harshly. But she would only go to Krishna and cry to Him 'Oh Kris'n'a, Kris'n'a, Kris'n'a forgive them they do not understand. Please help them they are lost in Maya'. So this young girl understood from an early age what is illusion and what is bliss. So she would think only for Kris'n'a, she would do only for Him, she would take none other and she vowed only Kris'n'a will be my husband. Such was her loyalty, her devotion to her Lord that she endured the barbs and disdain of all without the slightest ill will. For she knew it was not their fault, only that they were blind and deluded. They did not see His bright and shinning face, they did not hear His flute magical. They did not see His radiant eyes which could pierce the veil of illusion and free the soul with a single gaze. And for all her suffering she knew she was the most fortunate for the Grace of her Lord surrounded her and she was His. So she paid no heed to those who abused her, keeping her mind ever on Kris'n'a she accepted banishment and focused herself only on her Lord. Her heart was pure and the grace of the Supreme was upon her. So began the movement of Bha'kti and the revitalization of the spiritual lives of millions. For this simple girl was a true spiritualist and Krishna gave to her and all beings His blessedness. The vision of Him consumed her and as others came it spread outward and devotion was rekindled where pompous ceremony and dogma had lived. So Mi'ra'ba'i' gave a great deal though she never thought once of it , she only thought for her Lord and how to please Him.

But do you know such devotion comes about through a two fold process. The human being must be willing to surrender all, to let go of preconception, desires, and all manner of worldly attachments. And at the same time the shower of Grace of the Supreme must be given to the willing and open sadhaka. So both are there, the willingness to surrender oneself at the feet of the Lord, and the shower of infinite Grace from that Divine entity. When these two join together it is rasalilla, the dance of the little with the Great. Surely this dance will end with the blessed union of these two and one alone will remain, united in pure and absolute love, the culminating point of human existence. Such is the path of love and devotion which Mi'ra'ba'i' walked with Kris'n'a. This path can be walked even to this day in high tech society, it is not so ancient that it is inapplicable in these modern times. It is relevant to this very day and I think that it may be followed not only in India, but in the West as well. Love has no nationality. It is universal. The love which Mi'ra'ba'i' had for Kris'n'a you may have also. Be as she was, ever absorbed in thoughts of your Lord and never forget your Beloved. Then surely the shower of His love will fall on you and drench you in nectar. You will, like Mi'ra'ba'i,' come to know Him within. And like Mi'ra'ba'i', enjoy His grace.