The Lord's flute played a different tune for each Gopi; each one liked a particular tune, which she took as personally addressed to her. It is said that in ‘Ras Leela' Krishna appeared as many Krishnas – as many as there were Gopis – and each Gopi danced personally with her own Krishna. In this is hidden the divine art of identification with others.
Who belongs to me?
Each person seeks emotional fulfilment. Whosoever can give that one fulfilment is held dearest to oneself. Since each of us seeks his emotional satisfaction from one another, inevitably there are emotional clashes with our near and dear ones when that identification is not experienced.
This gives a feeling of emotional insecurity: “I am alone in the world and no one belongs to me”. It is only the Lord himself, who seeking nothing from anyone; can give others their emotions desire. He identifies completely with the emotions of all who approach Him for their personal satisfaction.
Self-forgetfulness in the other
The Gopis were ordinary people like you and me, engaged in bringing up and looking after their families. Krishna was their common attraction because of the security & identification He gave so generously to all. Love that is Divine in nature is a total identification with the other's mind and intellect without imposing one's own self. Such love springs from total self-forgetfulness..... it is Divine because there is no differentiation between ‘mine' & ‘others'.
The gopis' action in abandoning their daily chores on hearing the Lord's flute is symbolic of the importance they attached to their love for the Lord as compared to their attachment to their own world. Each Gopi had tasted Krishna's Divine love from close quarters. He was an inspiration for them to imbibe & practice that love in their respective lives.
After Lord Krishna left Gokul & moved away to Mathura, the Gopis seemed to see Krishna everywhere in their lives. Now they practised the Love they had tasted in Krishna's company, with their own home folk – the Love that ONLY GIVES and seeks nothing in return. This is True love with Krishna – He appears everywhere & in everybody.
