Hare Kṛṣṇa,
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired, ‘Out of many types of meditation, which is required for all living entities?’”
Srila Ramananda Raya replied, “The chief duty of every living entity is to meditate upon the lotus feet of Radha and Kṛṣṇa.” (Cc. Madhya 8.252)
There are many forms of meditation, and many different goals to attain by each meditation. technique. But in the quote above, Ramananda Raya points out that the dhyāna pradhāna, main or chief meditation, is to fix one’s mind on the beautiful lotus feet of Radha-Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are the perfect object of meditation because they sever the attachment to material life and fulfill the desires of the devotees. If one does not have a pure heart and a peaceful mind, however, he will not be able to fix his mind on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.
Meditation on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet is the pinnacle of all types of meditation. We can extend the definition/scope of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet to also include His form, paraphernalia (such as flute, etc.), His abode, His associates, and so on. In this lesson, the gopis meditate on Kṛṣṇa by remembering the playing of His flute. Another aspect of meditation in this material world is to see objects of daily life and connect them to Kṛṣṇa. For example, the gopis see the clouds and draw a comparison with Kṛṣṇa’s bodily complexion.
“The clouds in the sky began to rumble gently, so that their sound would not disrupt the great cloud of Kṛṣṇa. The thundering of the clouds blended favorably with the flute sound, not disturbing it in any way. The cloud was a dear friend of Kṛṣṇa, because both are of dark color and act to remove people’s distress. The cloud then sprinkled fine particles of ice, which were just like tiny flowers, and made an umbrella from its own shadow to relieve his friend from the scorching heat of the sun. Pratapatram means that which delivers one from intense heat. Here we can understand that Kṛṣṇa is the cloud standing on the slope of the mountain. His garland and earrings are the cranes flying in the sky, His yellow dhoti is the lightning, and the song of His flute is the rain showering the essence of delicious nectar.” (SB 10.35.12-13: Sārārtha-darśini)
This lesson also describes the gopis’ meditation on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.
“As Kṛṣṇa strolls through Vraja with His lotus-petal-like feet, marking the ground with the distinctive emblems of flag, thunderbolt, lotus and elephant goad, He relieves the distress the ground feels from the cows’ hooves.” (SB 10.35.16-17: Sārārtha-darśini)
The benefits of meditating upon Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet are told throughout the Vedas: “O lotus-eyed Lord, by concentrating one’s meditation on Your lotus feet, which are the reservoir of all existence, and by accepting those lotus feet as the boat by which to cross the ocean of nescience, one follows in the footsteps of mahājanas [great saints, sages and devotees]. By this simple process, one can cross the ocean of nescience as easily as one steps over the hoofprint of a calf.” (SB 10.2.30)
And then there is also the meditation on Kṛṣṇa playing the flute.
One of the gopīs told mother Yaśodā, “My dear mother, your son is very expert among the cowherd boys. He knows all the different arts, how to tend the cows and how to play the flute. He composes His own songs, and to sing them He puts His flute to His mouth. When He plays, either in the morning or in the evening, all the demigods, like Lord Śiva, Brahmā, Indra and Candra, bow their heads and listen with great attention. Although they are very learned and expert, they cannot understand the musical arrangements of Kṛṣṇa’s flute. They simply listen attentively and try to understand, but become bewildered and nothing more.” (Texts 14-15: Kṛṣṇa Book)
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, the great devotee ācārya of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, has sung a song about this lotus honey, comparing himself to the bee: “O my Lord Kṛṣṇa, I beg to offer my prayers unto You. My mind is like the bee, and it is after some honey. Kindly, therefore, give my bee-mind a place at Your lotus feet, which are the resources for all transcendental honey. I know that even big demigods like Brahmā do not see the rays of the nails of Your lotus feet, even though they are engaged in deep meditation for years together. Still, O infallible one, my ambition is such, for You are very merciful to your surrendered devotees. O Mādhava, I know also that I have no genuine devotion for the service of Your lotus feet, but because Your Lordship is inconceivably powerful, You can do what is impossible to be done. Your lotus feet can deride even the nectar of the heavenly kingdom, and therefore I am very much attracted by them. O supreme eternal, please, therefore, let my mind be fixed at Your lotus feet so that eternally I may be able to relish the taste of Your transcendental service.” (SB 1.11.26p) All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!