Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta describes a fascinating story of Gopakumāra and his journey from the material world to the topmost abode of Goloka Vṛndāvana.
During his journey, he returns from Brahmaloka to Mathura in this material world. There, his guru teaches him the Gopāla-mantra, by which he can cross over the layers of the material universe and enter the spiritual world.
Crossing the Layers of Creation
As Gopa-kumāra ascends, he crosses layer after layer—earth, water, fire, air, ether, and reaches Pradhāna, the subtle root of material nature. There, he sees a deep bluish-black effulgence spread all around. He is so enchanted by it that he feels he has reached his final destination.
He enters the realm of Mahākālapura, the destination of impersonalists and those who worship the Lord as Brahman. Gopakumāra feels great satisfaction, thinking this is the end. But by the mercy of his spiritual master and the mantra he is chanting, he is able to understand that this is not his Lord Madana Gopala.
Layers of Desires
While reading this section, I was reflecting that on our journey back to the spiritual world, we also will be shown places filled with beauty and opulence. If we still have any material desire left, we may stop there. Our devotional progress will be checked, even though devotional service is never lost.
Years ago, I had told a devotee from Jammu that I will come to Kashmir to witness Krishna’s beautiful creation. But after the Pahalgam attack, that desire dissolved. It wasn’t a very strong desire, and perhaps I may or may not have pursued it actively. Still, the reality of this material world made the desire vanish completely.
Sometimes fear, or a deeper understanding of the miseries of this world, helps dissolve a few of our material desires. Not all, but at least some.
But sometimes, desires come up and vanish. We are unable to remain firm in our detachment.
SB 5.14.10 states, “The conditioned soul sometimes personally appreciates the futility of sense enjoyment in the material world, and he sometimes considers material enjoyment to be full of miseries. However, due to his strong bodily conception, his memory is destroyed, and again and again he runs after material enjoyment, just as an animal runs after a mirage in the desert.”
Fear or misery is not a lasting solution to eradicate the layers of material desires.
Layers Do Exist:
We need to develop a firm conviction that the material world cannot give me any happiness. And, we must understand the layers that I have worn over many lifetimes have only generated heat in my mind and consciousness.
Imagine wearing a thick fur coat in the blazing summer season. How uncomfortable it will be! The soul, being completely pure, cannot be satisfied with anything material. But, by our entanglement in worldly life, we have dressed multiple layers on top of one another. And the only result – Misery!
Devahuti says,
nirviṇṇā nitarāṁ bhūmann
asad-indriya-tarṣaṇāt
yena sambhāvyamānena
prapannāndhaṁ tamaḥ prabho
I am very sick of the disturbance caused by my material senses, for because of this sense disturbance, my Lord, I have fallen into the abyss of ignorance. SB 3.25.7
The LAYERed SOUL:
There was a person named Kailash. His desires only kept increasing.
When Nārada came to take him to the spiritual world, he said, “I have to complete my work.” Later, he said, “I want to take care of my wife.” Then, “I want to care for my children.” Later, “I want to care for my grandchildren.”
He took birth as a dog in the same house. Again Nārada came, and he said, “I want to guard this property. My sons don’t look after it.”
Later, he became a snake in that very field, and still wasn’t ready to give up.
Kailash had been consumed by his layers of desire.
Removing the LAYERS:
Mahārāja Parīkṣit was given a notice of seven days. Because he had no material desires, he immediately gave up everything and went to the banks of the Gaṅgā. In a moment, his layers of desires were dropped because he was sincere in his practice.
Dhruva Mahārāja too had desires, but by the direction of the Lord, they were evaporated in six months. Kailāsa took many lifetimes.
We may not be Dhruva, but we should certainly not be Kailash either. Our aim should be to dissolve, evaporate, and sublimate all desires in this lifetime.
As we progress spiritually, we must give up every material desire. And this is not easy. These layers of desire are subtle and binding. They can only be evaporated by the mercy of Guru and Krishna, and by strict and sincere devotional service.
Once Śrīla Prabhupāda was asked in his final days, “What do you desire?” And he replied, “Kuch icchā nahī— I have no more desire left.” To come to such a stage at the end of life is perfection.
HOW many LAYERS ARE WE WEARING?
We must daily assess – Today, how am I dressed? In a single layer, multiple layers or no layers. If I have to leave my body today, what kind of destination shall I attain? If we have some layers, we may likely end up in one of the upper regions of the material world.
After fighting on behalf of the demigods for a long time, Khaṭvāṅga was asked what boon he wanted. He simply asked, “How much time do I have?” They replied, “One moment.” He said, “Then send me to the earthly realm.” He came back, meditated on the Supreme Lord, and attained perfection.
When the notice comes to us, will we be ready?
Parīkṣit got a seven-day notice. Khaṭvāṅga got one moment. We may get no notice.
How much more careful and sincere we must be so that when the time comes, we are free from the grip of these layers of material desires, and ready to go back home, back to Godhead.
