Does prolonged expectation for a thing make us value it more- does this apply to the gopis separation from Krishna?

Answer Podcast

Does separation from Krishna increase the anticipation of uniting with him and that way there is intensification of devotion yeah that’s very true, Prabhupada talks about this in Krishna book also that when we don’t have something cherish it and get it then we treasure it so there are two aspects to this, when we say that the spiritual world is reflected in the material world there is some truth to it and there is also some element which is the reflection doesn’t work out accurately, in this world it often works out that when we expect something for a long time then when we get it, it often turns out to be anti-climax also because things of this world don’t live up to the expectation and then later on we hold on to them not because they are so good but simply because we had sought them so much, we feel they must be good so that although this longing is not realized in the material world the very presence of this longing comes from the soul’s longing for Krishna and that original relationship with Krishna, so in this world anticipating something and getting it may not always lead to satisfaction but with Krishna actually there is satisfaction in the remembrance of Krishna so that remembrance of Krishna can be when he is in separation and can be when he is in union with Krishna in both cases because there is remembrance of Krishna there is satisfaction so in that sense it is not like this world like suppose I have a craving for sweet rice feeling separation from sweet rice now just thinking of sweet rice does not give me any satisfaction actually it causes dissatisfaction it is only when I get the sweet rice and it is really good that I might get some satisfaction but in the case of Krishna his recollection, remembering him his remembrance is not different from him at one level and that’s why even when we remember Krishna in the anticipation also there is the fulfillment now Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharya has explained that when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would perform in Srivasangad the Harinam Sankirtan that is considered Rasasthali, now in this Rasasthali how can we have Rasa Leela without Krishna being present Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is at one level with Krishna but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not in the mood of Krishna he is in the mood of Radharani so where is Krishna present Krishna is present as the holy name, the holy name infuses everyone with the remembrance of Krishna that itself gives great ecstasy so in the recollection of Krishna also there is a at one level union with Krishna of course the Gopis do not want do not cherish that level of union they want the direct union with Krishna also and that is what makes their craving so intolerable for this the Gopis are not satisfied in the Damodarashtakam also Sanatana Goswami in his commentary says that in the 4th and 5th verses he is saying let me remember you let me become absorbed in remembering you but in the 6th verse he says previously he says that please let me be flooded with your remembrance but then he says in the 6th verse I want to see you with these eyes and Sanatana Goswami says this is a higher desire that to remember the lord is great but a devotee also knows that to see the lord directly is a special benediction and he is desiring that also so in the Gopis relationship with Krishna there is both these dynamics there is separation, at that time there is recollection there is union, at that time there is recollection and the Gopis cherish the recollection that is there in union and yes when Krishna does come back as Jiva Goswami describes at that time all the Gopis desires are completely and eternally fulfilled and all the agony of separation that they went through it all becomes worth it because now they have got Krishna forever with them Thank you very much