Page 137 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

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Krishna replied, “The silver jewelry and bracelets that you wear are too heavy.” Thus, having no choice, she threw those ornaments away as well.
Again Krishna rowed, and again the boat began to dip, and once more the gopi maiden cried out in fear and amazement that Krishna could not take her across the river. This time Krishna showed her that she had to discard even her nest ornaments of gold that she wore. Having done so, she was nally able to cross the river in Krishna’s boat.
The parable implies that as long as you are overly attached to possessions you cannot cross the world-process. Your physical body is like the vessel of yogurt. If you are attached to it and unnecessarily preoccupied with its appearance, you must gradually transcend that preoccupation. Your mental indulgences are like silvery bangles, and the subtler desires that burden your unconscious are like golden ornaments. Unless you detach yourself from all these burdens, you cannot cross the world- process and reach the shore of Liberation.
The phrase “poor in spirit” implies the unfolding of para vairagya—the supreme dispassion of Raja Yoga. In that lofty state of attainment, the soul, realizing its essential nature, spontaneously does not cling to any material objective. The desires of the mind are dissolved in the supreme ful llment of Self-realization. Therefore, the spirit does not