ONENESS AND DIFFFERENCE

Ever wonder what simultaneous oneness and difference... acintya beda-abeda tattva... means in a nutshell? Srila Prabhupada writes that it is the basis of Krishna consciousness.
This is explained so nicely, perfectly, in a few paragraphs of Krishna Book 2.27. A very deep and profound philosophical truth explained simply and clearly. I love the way Srila Prabhupada explains about Krishna consciousness.
This is the chapter where everyone is gathered at Kuruksetra for the rare solar eclipse. Everyone is there...from all the lilas. They meet each other and are in complete ecstasy appreciating each other's devotion to Krishna.

Krishna finds the opportunity to meet with the gopis alone. He speaks so beautifully to them. It is here that He explains His simultaneous oneness and difference and how they, the gopis can never be separate from Him at any time.
1. Everything is my energy. I am non-different from energy.
2. So I am present everywhere and everything rests in me
3. But I am not personally present everywhere. That depends on consciousness of Me.
Srila Prabhupada elaborates...
When we understand that Krishna is also His energy then we can utilize His energy to serve Him. That is the process of devotional service. That is how Krishna becomes personally present.
Srila Prabhupada gives the example of the Deity in the temple.
Arca vigraha is Krishna personally present and service to the Deity under the guidance of the acarya is non-different from serving Krishna directly. This is the spiritual science of devotional service.
"...the inhabitants of Vrndavana, the gopis, were not interested in the idea of going with Krishna to His capital city, Dvaraka. They wanted to remain busy in Vrndavana and thus feel the presence of Krishna in every step of their lives." KB 2.27