Duality and Non-Duality

DEEPAK M RANADE





Meerabai lived a life totally immersed in love, adulation, worship and service to Krishna.Every breath of hers was dedicated to her beloved. She was restless, desperate to meet and unite with him as the separation was unbearable; she pined for him, longing to be with him. She composed, sang and danced, all for him. For Meerabai, Krishna represented the very spirit of existence.Her devotion grew more steadfast and her consciousness was completely enveloped by Krishna. Her perseverance and dedication eventually led to divine communion. She and Krishna were One. Was illusory separation mandatory to experience this divine sublime emotion called bhakti? In the state of complete awareness, there was dissolution of her own identity . In overcoming duality , Meerabai now experienced the state of unmanifest singularity . She then continues in a paradoxically crestfallen and yet blissful state.
“Let things go on. Let this illusion be. Let all the rituals continue. Chala vahi Des.“ That is the wish of the Supreme. Through separateness and longing for union, comes about a realised union. That is what is divine leela. Multifarious manifestation is itself part of leela, or divine play of consciousness.
As a devotee who pines for union, thinking she is separated from the Divine, Meerabai savours the journey . “He chooses to masquerade as Deity and Devotee donning the mask of ignorance. Why should I endeavour to see through this deceit of delightful duality? Let me worship my own reflection.“