In plain words
Only one who has given these up can come at least somewhat near to Prema.
The gopīs are those who live in the feeling of the Ātma
Students! Devotees! To recognise the principle of God is not so easy. You think you have recognised something. In this way, even if you take many births, you cannot recognise the Satya. You are living a passing life. You stay close only to this passing life. This cannot give you a lasting nearness. Those who strive for this, they alone come very near. Many such ideals have come to light in the principle of Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs went on offering their all to Kṛṣṇa. Srikanth said it. ‘If You are the tree, I will come as a creeper and twine around You.’ Recognising such oneness, offering it, longing for it, delighting in it, the gopīs set out to experience it. Who are the gopīs? The gopīs are those who live in the feeling of the Ātma! Today, without contemplating the Ātma, we are wasting our lives. We must keep contemplating the feeling of the Ātma. Selfishness must be there! But only so far as is fitting! We must keep it within bounds. We must do all actions for the pleasure of God. Those who lived in that feeling of Prema are the gopīs. They were never cast down in the least by the sufferings of the world, the blame of the world or harsh words. Let one praise them, let another revile them, the gopīs paid no heed to either. ‘Kṛṣṇa should praise us; what do we want with the praise of this one or that one?’ they would think. ‘If only once we are told by Kṛṣṇa, "You are Mine," that is enough,’ they would feel.
It is no use thinking God is mine; God must say, this one is Mine
‘It is no use thinking God is mine; God must say this one is Mine.’