Table Of ContentK®ß√aya Govindåya Gopîjanavallabhåya
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-- Gopåla-tåpanî Upanißad is one of the
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principal 108 Upanißads. It emphasizes
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The Upanis.ads inform us that we should move from pp Gopåla K®ß√a and the spiritual practice
aa by which this feature of the divine can
mortality to immortality. However, Gopåla-tåpanî Upanißad takes
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us further still, from immortality to the nectar of immortality. It be realized. Gopåla K®ß√a represents the
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speaks to us of an experience of immortality that is both positive and heart of the Absolute and is thus real-
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progressive. Rather than an experience of immortality that involves ized by the exercise of the practitioner’s
only the cessation of mortality, retiring the soul in eternal passivity, pp heart: from dutiful devotion to love itself.
the passages of Gopåla-tåpanî underscore the potential of the soul aa Within the narratives that this Upa-
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to experience divine play in a realm where reason fi nds dignity not nißad employs to reveal its esoteric doc-
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merely in suppressing sensual passions but, more so, in bowing to ßß trine, the very fi gure of love personifi ed
divine passion. (cid:2)(cid:2)Although K®ß√a’s divine play is the ideal of Gopåla- aa
Swami B. V. Tripurari resides in his appears along with love’s object. The per-
tåpanî, being an Upanißad, the text is true to its genre and therefore dd
monastery, Audarya, in the redwoods of fect object of love, K®ß√a, while nondual,
sober. It stresses the discipline of freedom—the mantra—and its fruit,
northern California. Author and spiritual is not alone. He appears with the milk-
the music that sets God in motion. As Nietzsche would have it, so too
teacher, Swåmî has written several books, maid Gåndharvî, identifi ed elsewhere in
does Gopåla-tåpanî: freedom is disciplined in that it is a product of a
including Rasa: Love Relationships in S sacred Hindu lore as Rådhå. She is his
very long period of constraining oneself. Where Gopåla-tåpanî differs,
W
Transcendence, Ancient Wisdom for Modern primary çakti. As the principle of sacri-
of course, is that its eternity is not a euphemism for death. It is the
A
Ignorance, Tattva-sandarbha: Sacred India’s fi ce, self-giving, and love, she exemplifi es
doorway to a land beyond time through which one enters to participate
M
Philosophy of Ecstasy, Joy of Self, Aesthetic the means to unlock the mystery of life.
in God’s play, where God, believe it or not, has become a dancer.
I
Vedånta: the Sacred Path of Passionate Love, Apply yourself in the discipline of Gopåla-tåpanî, the yoga of B In the later section of the book, this lead-
Çrî Guru-Paramparå, Form of Beauty, and devotion that sheds light (tåpanî) on the cowherd K®ß√a (Gopåla), . V ing lady questions sage Durvåså, draw-
Bhagavad-gîtå: Its Feeling and Philosophy. and learn to love like you could never have imagined or reasoned was . ing out insight into the cowherd K®ß√a.
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possible. This eternal text of revelation descends from a land of love Swåmî B. V. Tripuråri’s commentary
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far beyond the reach of the mind—where words cannot reach—and I is deeply perceptive. It draws tastefully
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thus about which we cannot say enough. U on much older Sanskrit commentaries
R penned by saints of Swåmî’s own lin-
A
with commentary by eage and, in doing so, serves to further
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establish him not only as a contempo-
I SWAMI B.V.
rary voice of devotional Vedånta but
TRIPURARI
as a person of both wisdom and heart.
Audarya
Press Author of Aesthetic Vedånta and Joy of Self
Gopåla-tåpanî Upanißad
GaaePaal/TaaPaNaqYaaePaiNazd(
Gopåla-tåpanî Upanißad
SWÅMÎ B. V. TRIPURÅRI
OTHER BOOKS BY SWÅMÎ B. V. TRIPURÅRI
Bhagavad-Gîtå: Its Feeling and Philosophy
Rasa: Love Relationships in Transcendence
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Ignorance
Tattva-sandarbha
Joy of Self
Aesthetic Vedånta
Çrî Guru-Paramparå
Form of Beauty
For philosophical inquiries contact:
Audarya
22001 Panorama Way
Philo, ca 95466
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.swami.org
© Swåmî B. V. Tripuråri 2003
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retriev-
al system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-
copying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.
isbn 1-88606069-53-0
To my gurus, Çrîla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupåda
and Pujyapada Bhakti Rakßaka Çrîdhara Deva Goswåmî.
contents
ix preface
xi introduction
1 pürva-tåpanî
91 uttara-tåpanî
