Ṣaṣṭhy Amṛta Vṛṣṭiḥ
The Sixth Shower of Nectar
Āsakti – Attachment
I. What is Āsakti?
Verse 1
The Appearance of Āsakti
When ruci (taste) reaches extreme depth and makes Kṛṣṇa its sole object of relish, that is called āsakti.
Āsakti is the stage of intense attachment and любовной привязанности к Господу.
The Creeper of Bhakti
At the stage of āsakti, the creeper of bhakti bears clusters of buds, which will in no time become flowers, at the stage of bhāva, and then fruits at the stage of prema turn into fruits.
Distinction from Ruci
The statement that ruci has bhajana as the object and āsakti has the Lord as the object is a designation signifying proportionate quantity.
Actually both ruci and āsakti have both components as objects, but by less intensity in taking bhajana as object and greater intensity in taking the Lord as object, āsakti become distinguishable from ruci.
Āsakti polishes the mirror of the heart to such a condition that a reflection of the Lord may suddenly be visible there.
Before the stage of āsakti, the devotee, realizing that his mind has been overpowered by material objects and desires, after putting forth deliberate effort, withdraws his mind and fixes it on the Lord's form, qualities and activities.
In the stage of āsakti however, absorption of the mind in the Lord is automatic, without effort.
A devotee even at the stage of niṣṭhā cannot discover how his mind sometimes withdraws from the Lord and fixes itself on material affairs.
In contrast, the devotee who has developed āsakti does not notice how and when his mind forgets everything material and is spontaneously attracted to everything related to Kṛṣṇa.
Such attachment to God is beyond the comprehension of those who do not have āsakti. Only by reaching the level of āsakti can one understand what āsakti is.
II. Symptoms of a Person in Āsakti
Verse 2
Early in the morning, seeing another devotee, he will begin talking:
Where are you coming from? You have a śālagrāma-śilā in a nice case hanging from your neck. Your tongue is quivering every moment from tasting the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's name as you chant softly. Seeing you like this I feel overwhelming joy. Tell me what holy places you have visited, and describe all the great saintly souls you have met. What realizations have you had, and what realization have you bestowed to others?
In this way he will spend some time drinking nectar in intimate conversation.
Elsewhere, seeing a devotee with an attractive book under his arm he will say:
By your extraordinary presence I can guess that you are very learned. Please recite it for me. Bring to life by your shower of nectarean explanation just one verse of the tenth canto, which is like a cātaka bird waiting for raindrops.
Hearing the explanation his body hairs will stand on end.
Going elsewhere he will say:
Oh, just today my life will be successful, for this gathering of devotees will immediately destroy all my sins.
Thinking in this way he will pay repeated obeisances on the earth.
Being honored with affection by the most learned and advanced devotee, the crown jewel of the assembly, he will sit before him in humble, crouched posture, and beg from him with tears in his eyes, while holding his pulse:
Oh master, you are the remedy for the material disease afflicting the three worlds. I am the most fallen and depraved person. Please diagnose my malady and advise me what medicine and food to take. By that miracle drug, restore me to proper health.
Overjoyed with the devotee's glance of mercy, and his trickling nectar of sweet words, he will stay for some time to serve his lotus feet.
Sometimes wandering by a lake or in the forest, observing the movements of the animals and birds, he will intuitively interpret them as signs of mercy or punishment of Kṛṣṇa upon himself:
If Kṛṣṇa is showing his mercy to me, then let the antelope in the distance come towards me three or four steps. If he is not showing mercy, the antelope will turn away.
Seeing a small boy playing on the outskirts of a village, he will be reminded of the child saint Sanaka and will enquire from the boy, "Will I see Vrajendra Kumara?"
"No."
Hearing that simple syllable, he will deliberate on whether to take the answer at face value or seek a deeper meaning.
Internal Status & Public Opinion
Remaining in his house, like a miserly merchant greedy for treasure, with a worn face, he will be absorbed in thought all day, while dreaming, standing, and sitting:
When asked what is the matter he will sometimes act like a mistake, at other times he will feign normality. His friends will apologize, "He was alright before, but now his intelligence has become covered."
But the devotee, far from considerations of respect and disrespect, having fallen into the current of the great celestial river of attachment (āsakti) to the Lord, will simply continue his attempts to come closer to the Lord.
Public Perception
Unacquainted neighbours
Idiot by birth
Followers of Vedic ritual
Stupid
Adherents of impersonal Brahman
Disillusioned
Followers of pious activities
Fallen
Devotees
Amassed some great treasure
Offenders
Pretending