Purusha is one. Jiva Prakritis or Para Prakritis are many. To Purusha Jiva must be always negative, however positive it may be towards the forms of Apara Prakriti. Purusha is always Male. And to Him, Jiva Prakriti is always a female. As the Vaishnavas say, there is only one male in all Vrindâvana and that male is the Lord Sri Krishna. In devotional practice, one should consider himself a female, the male being the Lord of the universe, as reflected in the heart of every man. The Gopis heard the music and went to Sri Krishna. If you are of the world, go back to the world. But no, the Gopis were not of the world. They had every right to the union. And Sri Krishna could not deny them His companionship. Nay, it was a great thing to the Lord Himself that Jivas should return to Him with all their spiritual experiences that the Universe might be served and protected. The concession was natural, the joy was mutual. But in the midst of the union itself, there is a danger, a most subtle danger, that of Egoism, "I am in union with the Lord." The first and the last weakness of humanity, this I-ness is a drawback even in the highest spiritual life of man. The Gopis thought of _themselves_ and there was an instant break in the union. The Lord disappeared. The Lord incarnated for the good of the Universe and not of individuals, and if individuals were dear to Him it was for the sake of the Universe. He was no special property of the Gopis; What did the Gopis do? They imitated his actions on the Earth. They followed His footsteps wherever found. They approached the Lord as much as they could in idea. At last they broke out, "Thou art surely not the son of a Gopi. Thou art the inmost seer of all beings. Implored by Brahmâ thou hast appeared, O friend in the line of the Sâtvatas, for the protection of the Universe." The Gopis now realised that the Lord they wanted to be united to was the Lord of the Universe. His mission was the protection of the universe. Could they share with Him? It was then and then only that they could expect a continuity of the union. It was not for themselves only that they had any further right. Hut the Gopis now cared not for themselves. They cared for their Lord, whom they now knew and realised to be the Lord of the Universe. And lo! the Lord appeared again. This time there was union but not individual union. Hand in hand, the Gopis formed a circle with their Lord, not the individual Lord, but the universal Lord making Himself many. Every Gopi held the hands of the Lord and all the Gopis collectively formed one circle, and the circle went on dancing and dancing. The Devas looked with wonder and envied the lot of the Gopis. Let that wonder grow amongst us. Let us catch a glimpse of that divine dance, that Râsa Lilâ, that men may become gods on the Earth. _Sudarsana, Sankha Chuda, Arishta, Kesi and Vyoma._