A Spirituality of Liberty, Truth, and Love
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  • 2010
  • Mar
    16
    ECLECTIC VOICES OF SPIRIT
    ECLECTIC VOICES OF SPIRIT Puna Authors Speak Sat., March 20, 2-4 pm Katalin Koda:  Reiki Master, Visionary Artist, ...
    15
    Hindu Encounter with Modernity
    Hindu Encounter with Modernity: Kedarnath Datta Bhaktivinoda Vaisnava Theologian, by Shukavak N. Dasa is a ...
    14
    The Language of God
    The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins, ...
    13
    The Place of the Hidden Moon: Erotic Mysticism in the Vaishnava-sahajiya Cult of Bengal
    Comments on The Place of the Hidden Moon: Erotic Mysticism in the Vaishnava-sahajiya Cult of ...
  • Feb
    28
    Gaur Purnim Reflections 2010
    The day started out with a tsunami warning which is part of the reason we ...
    26
    An Historical Introduction to Erotic Spirituality
    Here is the introduction to my next book, Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: A Spirituality of Natural Devotion, in PDF ...
    24
    Stock market of purity
    Stoning to death was a common punishment for so called breakers of the purity system ...
    22
    What I Say
    Here's something for those of you who understand the language of music: what-i-say
    Steve's Musings Archive
    I created stevebohlert.com and my Blogger blog, "Steve's Musings" in 2003. It went through various ...
    13
    Tantric Radha-Krishna Devotion
    In his book Sacred Sexuality, Georg Feuerstein explains: "Whereas mainstream Hinduism tends toward puritanism and life-negating ...
    10
    Spirituality humanised
    "When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two ...
    01
    Author Steve Bohlert to Appear on Common Threads Radio
    Common ThreadsA Co-production of WGVU Radio & The Interfaith Dialogue Associationwww.interfaithdialogueasociation.orghttp://www.wgvu.org Common Threads is a program ...
  • Jan
    27
    Chaitanya on Panentheism
    In the Chaitanya Charitamrita (2.8.226-27 & s 52) Prabhu replies to Ramanand, "The mahabhagavata looks ...
    23
    The Daily Meditation
    I have posted  ❦ "The Daily Meditation" (PDF) on stevebohlert.com. This is a draft of ...
    A spiritual journey from Sunol to Oregon, Berkeley, the Midwest and Hawaii
    I love the sweet smell of Kilkare Woods. It signals my re-entry to Sunol. Twenty-three ...
    18
    Gingerbread man's dreams
    Our understanding of the world and how we relate to the society is revealed in ...
    13
    Groundhog Day religions
    "I told you. I wake up every day, right here, right in Punxsutawney, and it's ...
    11
    Steve Bohlert to Address Unitarians
     Steve Bohlert will speak on his new book, Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: A Spirituality of Liberty, Truth, ...
    02
    A Review of Universalist Radha-Krishnaism
     A Review of Universalist Radha-Krishnaism by Daniel Clark--longtime Radha-Krishna devotee It's evident the book is a product ...
  • 2009
    An exciting new year for us.
  • Dec
    29
    The Tao of God-dess
    There is a thing inherent and natural, which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and ...
    28
    Unique and Important
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism is the first attempt to articulate a “progressive” or “modernist” form of Vaishnava ...
    20
    The observer effect
    Quantum physics' the observer effect says that there is no reality until that reality is ...
    18
    My Initiations
    Since the question of my initiation has come up again, let me tell you a ...
    Why Universalist Radha-Krishnaism? (Podcast 1)
    Steve Bohlert shares his life's story in this introductory podcast and tells more about reasons ...
    04
    Stubbornly persistent illusion
    Albert Einstein, perhaps the most celebrated and recognized scientist/philosopher, said once, "People like us, ...
  • Nov
    28
    Profitonomy
    No matter how green it might be, money still cannot be as organic, sweet and ...
    26
    From Where You Dream
    I'm reading a very interesting book, From Where You Dream: The Process of Writing Fiction, ...
    20
    The Method
    The Method (PDF): is a description of the process Lalita Prasad Thakur taught me for ...
    03
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: A Spirituality of Liberty, Truth, and Love
    Title: Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: A Spirituality of Liberty Truth and Love Author: Steve Bohlert Edition: First ISBN: 978-0-918475-02-2 Publication date: ...
    02
    A post-modern map of faith
    As the old saying goes, “If the map doesn't agree with the ground, then the ...
  • Oct
    31
    How I Learned This Process
    NEW ❦ "How I Learned This Process" (PDF): is a 65 page draft section from ...
    30
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: Book
    Media & Press Room ABOUT THE AUTHOR Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Goswami) lived in India as an ...
    26
    Excerpts from Ujjval Nilmani
    I just posted a draft section of my new book, Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: A Spirituality of ...
    13
    Experiencing Radha-Krishna: A Guide for Entering Into Their Play
    For many months now, I’ve been working as an editor and publisher getting Universalist Radha-Krishnaism ...
    12
    New Book Started
    I just started my second book which will expand upon the final chapter of my ...
  • Sep
    29
    How to Love Your Flute
    How to Love Your Flute: A Guide to Flutes and Flute Playing, or How to ...
    27
    Inner vs Outward Practice
    I used to be quite an ecstatic dancer in kirtan, but now I don't do ...
    26
    Perception
    In a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop ...
    21
    Simultaneous Oneness and Difference
    Philosophical thought regarding the relation between God-dess and humans, God-dess and the world of finite ...
    15
    What is truth?
    What is truth? In Universalist Radha-Krishnaism, I admit that it may indeed be a product ...
    12
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 5)
    Radha-Krishna, Braj, the cow-herding pastimes, and other elements form the Indian revelation of that ideal ...
    11
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 4)
    The associates please God-dess according to their particular relationship, like servant, friend, parent, or lover. ...
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 4)
    The associates please God-dess according to their particular relationship, like servant, friend, parent, or lover. ...
    10
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 3)
    Since we are finite parts of the holographic whole, God-dess lives within us. When we ...
    Why Universalist Radha-Krishnaism Exists
    Prabhupada Is Always Right (Click for a humorous, yet insightful article.)
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 3)
    Since we are finite parts of the holographic whole, God-dess lives within us. When we ...
    A Fabulous Piece of Writing I Want to Share
    Prabhupada Is Always Right
    09
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 2)
    From our human point of view, Radha-Krishna, in their intrinsic form, possess infinite potencies, infinite ...
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 2)
    From our human point of view, Radha-Krishna, in their intrinsic form, possess infinite potencies, infinite ...
    08
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 1)
    We cannot develop a relationship with an Undifferentiated Oneness (or unmanifest spiritual potential) because we ...
    Radha-Krishna, the Divine Couple (Part 1)
    God-dess’ infinite forms are like parts related to the whole. Since God-dess does not have ...
  • Aug
    27
    To Radha
    To Radha on Her Appearance Day As a gift to you my dear queen of Braj, I ...
    15
    Where the streets have no name
    I want to run I want to hide I want to tear down the walls That hold me ...
    10
    Our Roots – Bhaktivinode Thakur
    Bhaktivinode Thakur (1838-1914), our grand teacher, was a unique man among Indian scholars in tradition ...
    09
    Global de-marketing
    We live in an overpopulated and over-consumed world, facing an inevitable result of all our ...
    08
    See Beyond the Veil
    As a life long seeker myself, open to both Eastern and Western religious ideas, I ...
    See Beyond the Veil
    As a life long seeker myself, open to both Eastern and Western religious ideas, I ...
    04
    Where I’m Coming From
    Having been disillusioned by fundamentalist Christianity as a teenager, I became a beat and then ...
    Where I’m Coming From
    Having been disillusioned by fundamentalist Christianity as a teenager, I became a beat and then ...
    Natural devotion through karate
    What would you think of a friend of yours that likes karate, but goes around ...
  • Jul
    26
    Our View of Science
    Unlike the majority of religious groups and their sects who cling to antiquated and dogmatic ...
    17
    Institutionalizing Prema-bhakti
    I was doing some web research today and came across this book excerpt by eminent ...
    16
    Perpetuum mobile
    A reality without ability to embrace extremes wouldn't be a reality -- it would collapse ...
    11
    Nature of the Absolute - Part 4
    The blissful energy enables God-dess to enjoy bliss and infuses bliss into the hearts of ...
    Nature of the Absolute (cont.)
    The blissful energy enables God-dess to enjoy bliss and infuses bliss into the hearts of ...
    08
    Nature of the Absolute - Part 3
    Vedic metaphor suggests something like this: suppose an expansion of God-dess sleeps and dreams this ...
    Nature of the Absolute (cont.)
    Cosmic Consciousness is higher than Undifferentiated Oneness in the hierarchy of manifestations as we understand ...
    07
    Nature of the Absolute (cont.)
    God-dess, the highest being, perfectly manifests all auspicious qualities. Undifferentiated Oneness exists as the ...
    06
    Nature of the Absolute (cont.)
    God-dess’ body and its owner are not two different principles like the difference between the ...
    05
    Nature of the Absolute - Part 2
    We are finite, and God-dess is infinite. We cannot limit the infinite with mere human ...
    Nature of the Absolute (cont.)
    We are finite, and God-dess is infinite. We cannot limit the infinite with mere human ...
    04
    Nature of the Absolute - Part 1
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism offers a panentheistic(1) theology. The personal Absolute enfolds even the formless, attributeless Absolute, ...
    Nature of the Absolute
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism offers a panentheistic theology. The personal Absolute enfolds even the formless, attributeless Absolute, ...
  • Jun
    22
    Contact Us
    We'd love to hear from you Send us your feedback -- questions, ideas, thoughts, and we'll ...
    15
    An Environmental Perspective
    Rather than God-dess giving humans dominion over other species and the environment, we are given ...
    An Environmental Perspective
    Rather than God-dess giving humans dominion over other species and the environment, we are given ...
    06
    Our Archives
    Enjoy browsing through our archives. Months are collapsible -- just click on a month's name ...
    03
    Why Krishna always wears yellow?
    Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue. Those of us who ...
  • May
    24
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism in Brief
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism is aimed at a well educated, open audience. It presents esoteric Vedic wisdom ...
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism in Brief
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism is aimed at a well educated, open audience. It presents esoteric Vedic wisdom ...
    13
    Remembering Radha-Krishna
    The following is intended to be meditated on daily while imagining ourselves in our perfect ...
    12
    Remembering Radha-Krishna Throughout the Day
    Remembering Radha-Krishna Throughout the Day The following is intended to be meditated on daily while we ...
    Natural devotion as a rose, as an art
    Natural devotion can indeed be practiced within Protestantism, Catholicism, Paganism, New Age, Islam, Judaism, etc. ...
    01
    A Queer Friendly Spirituality
    I saw the DVD “Milk” last night--a poignant reminder of our not so distant past ...
    A Queer Friendly Spirituality
    I saw the DVD “Milk” last night--a poignant reminder of our not so distant past ...
  • Apr
    30
    Spring Has Sprung in the Jungle!
    What a long, cloudy, rainy winter it has been. Today, Jahnava and I took the ...
    Spring Has Sprung in the Jungle!
    What a long, cloudy, rainy winter it has been. Today, Jahnava and I took the ...
    25
    An Experimental Approach to Faith and Reason
    The existence of God-dess cannot be conclusively proved or disproved. God-dess exists beyond time, space, ...
    An Experimental Approach to Faith and Reason
    The existence of God-dess cannot be conclusively proved or disproved. God-dess exists beyond time, space, ...
    20
    Major Christian Influences
    As I have said, Universalist Radha-Krishnaism is strongly influenced by progressive Christian thought.  Some of the ...
    Major Christian Influences
    As I have said, Universalist Radha-Krishnaism has strong progressive Christian influences. Some of the major ...
    18
    Download our desktop widget
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism becomes a part of your computer desktop and its dashboard. Download this user-friendly ...
    16
    Essential teachings
    Universalist Radha-Krishnaism comes under the heading of panentheism, which the Oxford American Dictionary defines as ...
    Unified vision
    When we go beyond sectarian understandings and take the best of each tradition, we cannot ...
    15
    What Do We Mean by Universalist?
    God-dess is present in other religions, but usually in a more limited stage of realization. ...
    14
    Considerations on the Context of Universalist Radha-Krishnaism
    Some ideas of how to understand where Universalist Radha-Krishnaism fits into a variety of different ...
    Creative remembrance
    We people are generally unable of great visualising abilities. None of us has a perfect ...
    13
    A Concise Summary
    I seek common ground with science and occasionally read a book to keep up with the ...
    A Concise Summary
    I seek common ground with science and occasionally read a book to keep up with ...
    12
    Easter Reflections
    After weeks of dismal clouds and rain, I woke up this morning with the rising ...
    Easter Reflections
    After weeks of dismal clouds and rain, I woke up this morning with the rising ...
    11
    Watercolour class
    How does an artist, or say a philosopher, apply for a job? What would be ...
    Universal Dances of Peace
    It’s the second Saturday of the month, which means Universal Dances of Peace are held ...
    10
    Why the name "Jungle Dispatch"
    I live in the jungle of South Puna on the Big Island of Hawai’i, hence ...
    Welcome to Universalist Radha-Krishnaism
    Aloha. Welcome to the new home of Universalist Radha-Krishnaism. I am Steve Bohlert / Subal ...
  • Mar
    26
    I'm really here
    It's amazing. When someone offers to design something for us, we're never quite sure what ...
    22
    About
    Spiritual teacher, Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Goswami) makes the bold move of redefining and reforming ...
  • Jan
    31
    Facebook Discussion Group
    We have a Universalist Radha-Krishnaism Discussion Group on Facebook.com. We invite anyone interested in discussing ...
    21
    Obama Inaugural Ball
    Since I did not make it to the MLK rally, I attended last night's inaugural ...
    19
    Life Among the Punatics
    My plans to go to the MLK rally today were disrupted when around one a.m. ...
    18
    A Reflection
    I don’t follow the news very closely, so I didn’t know much about Barak Obama. ...
    08
    Update
    I haven't posted here in over a month, so I figure I should give an ...
  • 2008
  • Dec
    02
    The Way It Is
    I tried being an optimist and believing things can change for the better. I actively ...
  • Nov
    19
    Speaking Truth
    The current police chief publicly dismissed the new ordinance passed by the people of Hawaii ...
    05
    A New Day!
    After the last two presidential elections, I just about gave up hope of ever seeing ...
    03
    Update
    Aloha. Last night I posted updates to the Universalilst Radha-Krishnaism website such as a new ...
  • Sep
    06
    Current Projects
    I am studying Chaitanya Charitamrita with translation and commentary by Edward C. Dimock, Jr. I ...
  • Aug
    21
    Divine Love, the End
    Divine love implies two things: the feeling of attachment or affection for the beloved and ...
    20
    Devotion, the Means
    Devotion “cannot, strictly speaking, be defined because it is transcendental.” Sages and scriptures variously described ...
    16
    A Note on the History and Myth of Radha Krishna and Chaitanya
    A Note on the History and Myth of Radha Krishna and Chaitanya Due to the late ...
    10
    Inconceivable Distinction and Non-distinction
    Philosophical thought regarding the relation between God-dess and humans, God-dess “and the world of finite ...
    08
    The Phenomenal World
    The world is a manifestation of the material energy of God-dess and is therefore real. ...
    07
    The Finite Self
    The different forms described previously are non-differentiated partial manifestations of God-dess. The living entities are ...
    05
    God-dess, Radha Krishna
    God-dess has infinite forms like parts related to the whole. Since God-dess “has no internal ...
  • Jul
    28
    The Holographic Universe
    I was doing research, preparing to respond to Kapoor's first paragraph of Chapter VIII, dealing ...
    25
    The Concept of the Personal Absolute
    God-dess has no second. God-dess is the only reality. God-dess’ form is pure self-luminous consciousness. ...
    22
    Nature of the Absolute
    Chaitanya presents a comprehensive concrete monism, dipolar monotheism or panentheism. The personal Absolute enfolds even ...
    21
    Sources of Knowledge
    “Shabda (revelation) is clearly recognized as the only proper source of knowledge. Sri Chaitanya is ...
    18
    Universalist Radha Krishnaism 2
    This is my latest attempt to define Universalist Radha Krishnaism. I will approach it using ...
  • May
    23
    Greenharvest Funding Defeated!
    I am happy to report the Hawaii County Council voted not to accept over $400,000 ...
    19
    God-dess Calls Us
    God-dess creates and sustains the universe. All creatures and things depend upon God-dess who alone ...
  • Apr
    10
    Stop Terrorizing the Community
    Yesterday, I met with Rev. Roger Christie head of The Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry and mayoral ...
  • Mar
    31
    ISKCON and Me
    How can a temple be in the present when it is presided over by a ...
    24
    Universalist Radha Krishnaism (Part 4)
    Dr. Michael Valle and Subal Das continue our conversation: MV: Universalist systems of spirituality are often ...
    09
    Universalist Radha Krishnaism (Part 3)
    Dr. Michael Valle and Subal Das continue our conversation: MV: Are all or many of ...
  • Feb
    21
    Universalist Radha Krishnaism (Part 2)
    Dr. Michael Valle and Subal Das continue our discussion of Universalist Radha Krishnaism. MV: Is ...
    08
    Universalist Radha Krishnaism
    In recent years calls have been made by influential and academic Vaishnavas for a reform ...
  • Jan
    28
    Androgyny
    Radha Krishna are the feminine-masculine poles of God-dess. When we see the two as one, ...
    22
    My Perspective On Sensuousness
    I am not a strict follower of Bhaktivinode, or anyone else, in the sense of ...
    20
    Sensuous Women Devoted to Krishna
    While meditating on what gopis might be like today and how we might translate “gopi” ...
  • 2007
  • Nov
    26
    Deity's existence as and in the holy names
    Let us assume that all the gods and goddesses, heavens and hells all exist within ...
    17
    The Nature of Deity
    God-dess refers to the Divine Couple, Radha Krishna, God and Goddess, energy and energetic, the ...
    02
    Archetypal Gender Equality
    I am influenced by the Brahma Vaivarta Purana and other later developments which elevate Radha ...
    01
    An Update
    I’m pretty much finished with the addition to my home that consumed much of my ...
    Basic Beliefs of Chaitanya Vaishnavism
    In my mind and experience, the basic beliefs of Chaitanya Vaishnavism are: Belief in God-dess as ...
  • Sep
    10
    God-dess and Nature
    In The G.O.D. Experiments, scientist Gary Swartz makes a good case for a guiding, organizing, ...
  • Aug
    28
    Casteless
    I think way too much emphasis is placed on brahminical culture and lifestyle in Chaitanya ...
    25
    Faith and Action
    Regarding faith, I want to make it abundantly clear that I separate faith from belief, ...
    23
    Why we need faith?
    No matter how sophisticated your idea of God, it is still trying to put God ...
  • Jul
    07
    Chaitanya Vaishnava Eroticism and the Kama Sutra
    Some months ago I had an inspiration to study the Kama Sutra in relation to ...
    01
    A Myth Writer Who Realizes It Is a Myth
    I just finished re-reading Sri Madhava Mahotsava by Sri Jiva Gosvamipada, translated by Bhanu Swami. ...
  • Jun
    29
    The Need for a New Vision
    I write about an ultimate or all-consuming concern or passion that takes over one's life ...
    28
    A Vision for Today
    I seek to find the essence of the myth and give it a Western makeover. ...
    Question Authority
    I simply cannot believe that India is the one culture that has been so blessed ...
    27
    More on Faith
    When we place our faith or ultimate concern/passion in something that is not ultimate, that ...
    Why God-dess?
    In the progressive, Protestant wing of the church, there is a strong effort to use ...
    26
    Faith and Belief
    I'm a bit of a follower of Paul Tillich, and in his Dynamics of Faith ...
    23
    Myth Builds Worlds
    As I learned it, myth builds worlds. It creates a world view that encompasses both ...
    19
    Life in Paradise
    It’s a beautiful day in paradise. The sun is shining, a breeze is blowing, I’m ...
    04
    Update
    My new web design is almost ready to publish, just going over final changes and ...
  • Apr
    21
    Is this really progress?
    Regrettably, I have been spending more time lately working on learning my new MacBook, especially ...
    03
    Essential Teachings
    God-dess refers to the Divine Couple, Radha Krishna, Goddess and God, Energy and Energetic, the ...
  • Mar
    19
    A Post-Modern Revisioning of Radha Krishna Devotion
    Ben Reist, my reformed theology professor, said “If a little Buddha rubs off on Jesus, ...
    13
    A Contradiction
    In The Bhagavat, Its Philosophy, Ethics and Theology, Bhaktivinode Thakur says, “Liberty then is the ...
    07
    The God We Never Knew
    I just finished reading The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion to a More ...
  • Feb
    27
    What Steve’s been up to?
    Well, I got my MacBook and am able to write again without having to deal ...
  • 2006
  • Nov
    28
    Cross-pollination
    Ben Reist, my Reformed Theology professor at San Francisco Theological Seminary, told the class, “If ...
    21
    Here I stand
    In the early 1970s, I lived in India for three years as a renounced devotee ...
    17
    My path at this time
    It’s mid-November in South Puna. We’ve been having a heat wave and dry weather. Yet, ...
  • Oct
    07
    Latest update—computer back
    I got my computer back about a week ago. I had to spend quite a ...
  • Aug
    25
    Aloha from the volcano island
    My brother in New York saw some stuff on the news about volcanic activity here ...
    24
    County Council Report
    It’s the day after the County Council meeting, and I’m sitting here in my yurt ...
    17
    Ballot Initiative Update
    I just copied this from peacefulsky.com the main website for this initiative. The simple, direct ballot ...
    Non-sectarian Radha Krishna Devotion
    Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, my grand guru, is a shining example to me as I read ...
    14
    Stop Helicopter Terrorism!
    I moved to the jungle to live a peaceful, quiet, contemplative life. Instead, I find ...
    02
    God As Mother 2
    I finished reading God As Mother: A Feminine Theology in India, by Cheever Mackenzie Brown. ...
  • Jul
    24
    God As Mother
    I have been reading God As Mother: A Feminine Theology in India, by Cheever Mackenzie ...
    14
    Why bad things happen to good people
    Sh*t happens. God-dess isn't doing it and our karmic involvement might just be being in ...
    11
    Radha Krishna’s Ages
    I have been reading Ananda Vrindaban Champu, by Kavi-karnapur, translated by Bhanu Swami & Subhag ...
    07
    Why ekadas bhav is not given easily?
    Babaji made me wait about a year before he gave me ekadas bhav. I asked ...
  • Jun
    26
    About Spiritual Practices
    I think sadhana (spiritual practice) needs to vary from person to person. I don't have ...
    Spiritual Age
    I have decided that in the spiritual world, my eternal age will be eighteen. When ...
    25
    To Bhaktivinode Thakur
    All glories to Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, my grand-guru, at whose lotus feet I cling. His ...
    22
    Ever New and Fresh
    Why must we be bound by the past? I don't believe the descriptions in scripture ...
    16
    How flexible is our conception of God/Goddess?
    Regarding the leelas (pastimes), it all depends on wether you view them as the absolute ...
    The Post-modern Way
    The post-modern way is to look at scripture as writings of different persons at different ...
    15
    Be Whole and Holy
    I am 22 pages into Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrita by Prabodhananda Sarasvati (it's a 640 ...
    06
    Pastimes People Can Relate To
    OK. Here’s why I made the call to change some of the traditional writings that ...
    05
    Making all things new
    "Can you explain how we, in our present limited state of evolution and consciousness, can ...
    03
    A call for help
    I am looking for some devotee scholars and poets who would like to collaborate with ...
  • May
    31
    What does it mean that Chaitanya is a mystic/incarnation?
    I view Chaitanya as a mystic, God possessed man who exhibited great love of God ...
    30
    The Universalist Church of Radha Krishna
    A Family of Faith for Western devotees of Radha Krishna Founding Pastor and Teacher, Subal Das ...
    28
    How am I different from other gurus?
    “Would you please speak on how your 'professional, pastor-teacher relationship with your students' differs from ...
    27
    My disciplic succession
    It is fitting that I am in the line of disciplic succession founded by Jahnava ...
    23
    The Guru
    Lalita Prasad Thakur (Babaji) was a very, humble down to earth kind of person. He ...
    21
    Let me introduce myself
    I am Subal Das Goswami, disciple of Lalita Prasad Thakur (Babaji) who is the son ...
    04
    Building Bridges?
    I just returned from the Hilo, Mayor’s Breakfast Fellowship: Let’s Build Bridges, in conjunction with ...
  • Apr
    30
    The Path of Love Classes
    I met with Roger Christie twice this week and will be going to his worship ...
    24
    Right livelihood
    “A householder should comfortably maintain his dependents, either with money that comes of its own ...
    20
    By chanting you can be free
    “Taking shelter of Krishna-nam is the ultimate practice for the real devotee.” (p 61) There are ...
    12
    How to live a balanced life?
    After explaining the futility of false renunciation, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur says, “Alternatively, if they place ...
    06
    Ecumenical Relations
    Very good relations exist among the various cannabis ministries here. We went to The 1st ...
    04
    Radha, the Supreme Goddess
    “A fully surrendered devotee always hopes that Lord Krishna will be kind to him. This ...
    03
    Spontaneous devotion
    “The original inhabitants of Vrindaban are attached to Krishna spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can ...
    Obtaining God's Mercy
    “All of Me, namely my actual eternal form and My transcendental existence, color, qualities and ...
  • Mar
    31
    The Sacred Herb
    I have been using cannabis spiritually since 1965. I really believe that it is one ...
    29
    The Hawai’i Cannabis Ministry
    Last week, a neighbor recommended I speak to Roger Christie, Cannabis Sacrament Minister and Counselor ...
    14
    Is it just my imagination?
    My initiator guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami said there was no need for ekadas-bhav initation in ...
  • Feb
    20
    Where I Stand (1)
    I am trying to be faithful to the broadness of spirit found in the writtings ...
    09
    Incredible connections
    My wife just called from work to tell me about an incredible thing that happened ...
    06
    A day of ministry
    My ministry is going quite well here, although it is a slow start since I ...
    04
    Radha Krishna eternally
    I must point out, that one thing I differ with the Sahajiyas on is not ...
    03
    Perhaps I'm a Sahajiya, a follower of the easy, natural way
    I've been following this discussion with great interest Gaudiya Repercussions -> Vaisnava Sahajiya II While I ...
  • Jan
    20
    Answers to two questions that have come up
    The Siddhartha I refer to is Hermann Hesse's novel named which I read shortly ...
    16
    Rules and regulations
    At certain times, I have given up all external Gaudiya Vaishnava practices. I have always ...
    Letters from my guru
    A fellow devotee has just post a collection of letters from my initiation guru, A.C. ...
    12
    The necessity of speaking out
    “However, consider the following point. Although to criticize mere external variations amongst the religious systems ...
    11
    Universalist spiritual views
    “It is imperative that the people of a specific country give proper respect to their ...
    10
    Religious diversity and respect
    “Although people in various countries on various continents have a wide variety of natures, the ...
    The case for spontaneous love
    Let me begin by offering my obeisances to my Prabhuji, Sri Lalita Prasad Thakur, his ...
    09
    Come see me at the Pahoa Sunday Market
    Starting next Sunday, I will have a booth at the Pahoa Sunday Market at which ...
    06
    Cold in Hawaii
    Well here I am in my yurt in Hawaii at six a.m., and I'm freezing ...
    05
    My Perspective
    To remember Radha Krishna always and never forget them is the purpose of following the ...
    02
    I'm now resuming my ministry in Hawaii
    I’m back. After camping out on our land for seven months while building our home, ...
  • 2005
  • Aug
    09
    My spiritual perspective
    I find that it all comes down to universal love. I am not much of ...
  • Jun
    19
    The Dream Goes On
    My wife and I are quite comfortable living on our land for the past few ...
  • May
    12
    The dream is real
    Greetings from the Aloha Outpost Internet Café in lovely Pahoa, Hawaii. It is a beautiful ...
    04
    Aloha from the Big Island
    Aloha. Greetings from the Big Island. I’m staying at a vacation rental place in Hawaiian ...
  • Apr
    10
    Hawaii, here I come!
    I made my plane reservation yesterday. I will leave for Hawaii, April 27th. I'll set ...
  • Mar
    30
    A lovely new day
    I have had a wonderful day today. The temperature got up around 70. The sun ...
    06
    Which came first?
    The question is are we made in God's image or is God made in our ...
    05
    How do you understand scripture when you don't take it literally?
    When I was studying Old Testament my first semester in seminary, a student asked, "After ...
    04
    Modernizing devotion to Radha Krishna
    I received the following questions in response to my blog of February 11th: "How should it ...
  • Feb
    17
    The Move to Paradise
    Geraldine and I are back in Grand Rapids. After the first week in Hilo, the ...
    11
    Ever Unfolding Spiritual Truth and Practice
    Here I am sitting on the lanai in Hilo once again. It’s a beautiful morning ...
    03
    Aloha from Hawaii
    Here I am sitting on the lanai of the Wild Ginger Inn in beautiful Hilo, ...
  • Jan
    15
    How can we tell what is real?
    As above so below. Of course biologically induced visions, etc. are real. Everything we can ...
    10
    What Age Are We In?
    In my readings, I have been coming across two systems of calculating the yugas. One ...
  • 2004
  • Dec
    27
    A Vision for Tomorrow
    I apologize for the long lapse since my last post. I am going through a ...
  • Oct
    19
    Science and Religion
    I don't believe there must be a conflict between science and religion since they deal ...
    05
    Erotic Mysticism
    I must admit that at heart I am more of an artist than an intellectual. ...
    Mysticism Today
    I was just sitting chanting my mantras and meditating on my gurus, Lalita Prasad and ...
  • Sep
    21
    Jai Radhe!
    Today is the appearance day of Sri Radha. This poem is my gift to her. As ...
    11
    A post-modern view
    One of my professors said that it is possible to return to a "second naivete" ...
    10
    A critical approach to spirituality
    I received a very liberal, Christian seminary education at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in ...
    06
    A day of celebration
    Yesterday I received the greatest news, my son John who was training at Fort Bliss, ...
  • Aug
    20
    The Historical Chaitanya
    Aug 16 2004, I posted the following on Gaudiya Discussions: For a long time now, liberal ...
    15
    Lord Chaitanya
    I have just finished reading Lord Chaitanya by O.B.L. Kapoor. It is an extensive English ...
  • Jul
    19
    Update (7.4)
    It's been three weeks since my last blog. I apologize. It has been a very ...
  • Jun
    27
    Sikshastakam
    I am happy to announce the web publication of Sikshastakam, Sri Chaitanya's Teachings, by Steve ...
    22
    Gay rights
    I just returned from a press conference attended by about 25 local clergy opposing the ...
    14
    Poetry reading
    One of the fun things we do at Above and Beyond is have a poetry ...
    09
    Where is the hope?
    I got a link to this article in my Sojomail today The United States of ...
    06
    War sucks!
    I just spoke to my son John, 22 years old, in the Army National Guard. ...
    03
    Love is the answer
    There is a difference between following rules and regulations and ethical, civilized behavior. Of course ...
    02
    If God exists, why is there so much suffering?
    The most satisfying answer I have found to this question is based on the book ...
    The need for spiritual regulations
    I gave up following the regulative principles taught by my guru 30 years ago, and ...
    01
    Wake up!
    I saw "The Day After Tomorrow" yesterday. I think it is a great great movie ...
    My Position
    I do not accept "easy universalizing." I rankle at impersonalist rhetoric which often casually equates ...
  • May
    30
    Matthew Fox
    I have been very influenced my Matt Fox. I read a number of books by ...
    28
    Global Warming
    While "The Day After Tomorrow" is said to be more science fiction than science, there ...
    27
    The Path of Love
    "The Path of Love" got off to a great start this evening. Several of us ...
    21
    Vacation and Vocation
    After two weeks of vacation, visiting family and friends, staying at a resort in the ...
    01
    A fun place to be
    It's so good to have an office in a place that is fun to just ...
  • Apr
    29
    Above and Beyond
    Despite road work right in front of the shop, Above and Beyond is coming along ...
    27
    Binary stars
    I am very happy to see that modern scientists and researchers are seriously examining the ...
    21
    Update 4.4
    With spring here, I've been doing an increased number of pre-marital interviews, planning weddings and ...
    17
    Conscious living
    Life flows on in a mysterious process all its own. We're born, grow up, get ...
    15
    New office
    It's official. I'm now in my new office at Above and Beyond, 1136 Wealthy St ...
    11
    In process
    I have been an adherent of process theology for quite some time now. We and ...
    Happy Easter
    Here it is Easter again. It's still cold, cloudy and dreary in this part of ...
    09
    Finding a balance
    I have just been reading Gaudiya Discussions -> A Rational Approach to Modernizing which very ...
    08
    Thom Hartmann
    I was recently introduced to the Thom Hartmann radio program. It is good to hear ...
    05
    Sexual balance
    While there are certainly physical differences between men and women, I believe a more androgynous ...
    04
    Update 4.4.4
    I am sorry that it has been three days since my last post. I have ...
    01
    The failure of success
    I was inititated by Bhaktivedanta Swami in San Francisco, February, 1967. His movement was very ...
  • Mar
    30
    Good philosophy
    I was just rewriting my brochure and referenced a brochure I wrote 22 years ago. ...
    Lies!
    And I ask why there are no calls for impeachment, why many people don't understand ...
    Saffron
    I have been working on my autobiographical spiritual journey, Saffron, for about 20 years off ...
    29
    Above and Beyond
    I am happy to announce that effective April 15th I am moving my office to ...
    28
    Why not have it all?
    My guru Bhaktivedanta Swami said, "Godhead is light. Nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead ...
    27
    Man and God
    Jesus was just a man going through what he went through. He had no idea ...
    26
    Follow Jesus
    Too many Christians want to put Jesus on a pedestal and worship him rather than ...
    All we need is love
    The nectar of devotion to Sri Sri Radha Krishna, the divine couple who are the ...
    25
    Spiritual community
    Through the internet, I have been able to revive some of my connections with the ...
    23
    Dealing with paradox
    Life is perfect, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, spring is blooming. My wife ...
    21
    Life
    I know you're just dying to know why I haven't blogged the past couple of ...
    18
    Climate change and politics
    This article outlines the political and economic implications of climate change and how the Bush ...
    Climate change continued
    Here is the executive summary and the complete Pentagon report on climate change. EMS - ...
    17
    Climate change is real and serious
    February 23, 2004, I blogged on Pentagon reports about extreme climate change found in the ...
    16
    Above the law?
    It seems sports are more of a religion than the Catholic church. Policing themselves: Sports ...
    Protect the future
    Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come. RADICAL REVIVAL: SDS leader from ...
    15
    Protecting minority rights
    The Press editor is right when he says the legislature did the right thing by ...
    13
    Cyber pilgrimage
    The internet is just great. I can sit in my study in Grand Rapids and ...
    12
    Love and marriage
    I totally agree with this Press editorial Untying the knot: Mandatory premarital counseling an undue ...
    11
    Interesting times
    I really enjoy living in Grand Rapids. I have a nice, old home on the ...
    09
    Perfect or imperfect?
    How often do we put up with imperfect persons, situations, jobs, relationships, living conditions, etc.? ...
    04
    A sweet life
    I just watched "A Concert for George" for the second time. Great Performances . Concert ...
    02
    Rejoice!
    The soul awakening to itself, its spiritual nature and its relationship to the Supreme is ...
    01
    How perfect
    Wow! What an incredible past few days it's been. I'm leading Perfect Life workshops and ...
  • Feb
    25
    No politics!
    And while I'm at it, let me say "no politics" either. What a bunch of ...
    No religion!
    Religious debates and theological discussions can be so boring and uninspiring when persons just want ...
    23
    Climate change
    I normally check my email in the morning, and this morning I was greeted with ...
    22
    The Passion
    Yesterday, I read Gibson's gospel, an article by the Grand Rapids Press Religion Editor about ...
    21
    Androgyny
    I embrace a transcendent spiritual dimension that is beyond this material universe as well as ...
    19
    The divine couple
    While I admit that we can never totally conceive of God with our conscious minds ...
    Another view of gay marriage
    Wow! My friend Spence sent me this link. What an eye opener regarding the history ...
    18
    Gay marriage
    I was just reading a post of "Gay marriage isn't what it used to be" ...
    Impersonal or Personal?
    Many seekers who turn to the East come under the influence of the impersonalist school ...
    16
    Dominionism
    I am a member of United Communities of Spirit, an interfaith, spiritual community linked on ...
    14
    Happy Valentines Day
    Love the one you're with. Steve
    13
    Perfect or imperfect?
    With so many terrible things happening all around the world and being bombarded by them ...
    11
    When will we ever learn?
    I have been part of the counter cultural movement all my life. For eleven years, ...
    10
    Scary thoughts
    Listening to WAMU : The Diane Rehm Show this morning, Kevin Phillips, the fellow who ...
    09
    Why I oppose the war
    Let me explain some of the reasons I am opposed to the Bush administration and ...
    07
    Learning to live with differences
    I can't believe how busy I've been lately. I haven't blogged for three days. As ...
    03
    It's a shame
    It's a shame I have to drive to Lansing early tomorrow morning to participate in ...
    01
    Michael Moore Speaks
    Here's an article covering Moore's appearance last night. Hundreds listen to Moore politics Too bad ...
    Don't give up the fight
    It is important to maintain a positive attitude, see the good in all things, be ...
  • Jan
    30
    A counter-culture weekend
    I was glad to read this favorable review by John Douglas, who doesn't easily give ...
    29
    The worst of times
    You know, I'm just so disgusted it's incredible. I must admit, I'm a news junkie, ...
    27
    Help wanted
    In addition to the book I mentioned in yesterday's blog, I have been working on ...
    23
    Watch your karma
    What determines whether we wind up in heaven or hell or somewhere in between? It ...
    21
    Three types of planets
    The earth is considered to be a middle planet somewhere between heaven and hell. There ...
    19
    Follow King's example
    Martin Luther King, Jr. was certainly a great man who did a lot for this ...
    17
    Spiritual evolution
    We are part and parcel of God, one in quality, different in quantity. Due to ...
    16
    Free love
    We are all eternal, individual persons and desire to be in relationships of love and ...
    14
    Oneness
    There is an aspect of God that is formless, attribute less, indescribable and like the ...
    13
    Democracy?
    In a Grand Rapids Press article today, Fareed Zakaria points out some of the difficulties ...
    12
    God is talking to you
    God is incredibly close and immanent. We can talk to God and God hears and ...
    09
    Why I write a new book
    As I said in my last blog, I am writing a new book elucidating my ...
    07
    New book explains it all
    I just started writing a new book, sort of The World According to Steve or ...
    06
    A Perfect Life
    As I prepare to lead A Perfect Life workshops later this month, I must ask, ...
    04
    More religion and politics
    Well, here we go again with religion and politics. Governor Granholm made a remark in ...
    03
    Religion and politics revisited
    As I was discussing in my blog Tuesday, there is a call for liberal churches ...
    01
    Be true to yourself
    Ah, to be oneself, to live true to one's own nature, to fulfill the purpose ...
  • 2003
  • Dec
    31
    Passionate Life
    I am reading Why Your Life Sucks by Alan H. Cohen for the second time, ...
    30
    Religion and politics
    I just read "Putting God Back in Politics" by Jim Wallis. This article appeared in ...
    Bob Dylan
    I was reading a list of the top ten movies of 2003 at salon.com a ...
    26
    All right!
    Finally saw "Return of the King" today. What a great movie. What an enduring theme. ...
    25
    Love is the answer
    The eternal religion is loving devotional service to God. It doesn't matter what path you ...
    23
    The Greatest Gift
    Look. It's like this. In the beginning, God created the whole universe. I believe it ...
    22
    Shine on!
    Yeah, it's the holiday season, and everyone's expectations are sky rocketing. Get a grip folks. ...
    21
    Imagine
    "Imagine there's no countries/ It isn't hard to do/ Nothing to kill or die for/ ...
    17
    Wake up!
    Well, here I go again. Definite proof I am appealing to a particular target market. Howard ...
    16
    Guys
    It's like why are men so cavalier when it comes to personal safety measures especially ...
    13
    A positive vision
    Yesterday, my wife and I finally got to see The Matrix: Revolutions at the Imax. ...
    12
    The right to earn a living
    Last night I was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award by the Kent-Ionia Labor ...
    10
    Health care choices
    One of the benefits of the decline in health insurance benefits that I and many ...
    08
    The need for change
    Last night my wife and I went to a wonderful house party sponsored by MoveOn ...
    06
    Christmas
    I'm finding it hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year. I haven't put ...
    05
    Change the world
    Life is perfect and getting more perfect by the day, at least for me. I've ...
    03
    Perfect! 12.3
    A perfect life, what an incredible idea. To be able to live a perfect life ...
    02
    Don't let it get you down
    Life sucks! That's for sure, especially the last three years of the Bush regime. I ...
  • Nov
    30
    Revolution
    It's time for a revolution. However, I'm not talking about a revolution waged with guns. ...
    29
    Education
    My son is living in Missoula, MT with his girlfriend. They moved there after he ...
    27
    Thanks
    Happy Thanksgiving! Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for. Someone said that happiness ...
    25
    Take charge of your life
    In his final album, "Brainwashed", George Harrison has a line, "If you don't know where ...
    23
    The cost of war
    A week ago, I was sitting in the living room of a farm house in ...
    22
    Impressions of Italy
    Italy, wow! What a trip. We spent ten days in the Venice area of Northern ...
    09
    Traveling
    Tomorrow, my wife and I are going to Italy. We will visit the area around ...
    08
    Clean-up time
    Started the fall ritual of putting away the deck furniture, cutting off dead plants and ...
    06
    Resist oppression!
    Life is what we make of it. Unfortunately, some persons are making much more of ...
    05
    What to call myself?
    I had lunch today with a friend of mine who is a Reformed Church in ...
    04
    Father and son
    This says it all... In his memoirs, "A World Transformed," written more than five years ago, ...
    03
    Standing together
    I applaud the Episcopal Church for consecrating Bishop Gene Robinson in the face of threats ...
  • Oct
    31
    Be whole and holy
    Today is Halloween, the day before All Saints Day. Actually, Halloween was originally known as ...
    29
    The move is underway
    Today, I began the work of moving my office. After a year at Coopers Landing, ...
    28
    A sad state of affairs
    I have been the convener of the Livable Family Income Action Group of West Michigan ...
    26
    Acceptance
    We went to East Congregational Church this morning. We decided to walk since the weather ...
    25
    Love is the key
    I just got back from doing the wedding of a nice young couple. Even though ...
    24
    New developments
    What an exciting past couple of days it has been. As part of my morning ...
    23
    A call for radical change
    Got some chicken legs, yams and vegetables in the oven cooking. Their smell fills the ...
    20
    Good and bad
    Warm summer breezes blow on this Michigan autumn night. Temperatures in the upper 70s today. ...
    19
    I don’t sing very well.
    When I was a teenager, I had a radio in my bedroom on the second ...
    Bring the Troops Home
    Here's an article in today's Grand Rapids Press that reiterates what I just wrote. Let ...
    Support the troops
    I spoke to my son last night. He's 21, going to be 22 in a ...
    18
    Website
    Since I got my new computer up and running, I've been redesigning and rewriting/editing my ...
    16
    Autumn
    Fall is a really beautiful time of year. The temperatures are pleasant (I enjoy wearing ...
    14
    Business coaching
    I have just added business coaching to the menu of services I offer. I act ...
    12
    Love Now!
    Everything is new and ever changing. Everything is the same, timeless. How can we experience ...
    11
    Lost and found
    Yesterday's blog got lost in cyberspace when I clicked on the wrong button while trying ...
    08
    Family values
    I've been asked to get up early tomorrow morning and go to the county building ...
    05
    How big is your God?
    Here in the Grand Rapids area we have had an interfaith Thanksgiving service the past ...
    04
    Acceptance of life
    Today I spoke with my 79 year old mother on the phone. We talked for ...
    03
    A new day
    Days change, coming and going. Newness is ever present. Each new day is an opportunity ...
    01
    Hurray for a quitter
    I am more and more impressed with Arianna Huffington the more I learn about her. ...
  • Sep
    30
    Experience the joy
    Life is a wonderful mystery that we are all a part of. Everything, everyone is ...
    28
    Free your mind
    The seasons change and so do I. Life is a constant process of change. It ...
    27
    Up-grade your life!
    Well, I've been consumed the past couple of days with the task of buying a ...
    24
    Compromise
    How often we have to compromise between what we want and what is attainable. For ...
    23
    Part and Whole
    As I understand it, we are one with God. We have the same qualities as ...
    22
    Balance
    Learning to maintain balance in life is one of the most important things. Stay cool, ...
    21
    Another crucifixion
    Well, I just returned from the crucifixion of another good pastor. Rev. Mary Martin, of ...
    19
    Be
    Life unfolds mysteriously around us every day. How aware are we of life's deeper mysteries? ...
    17
    Hope for the future
    I feel really happy and optimistic about the future of the US for the first ...
    Why Your Life Sucks
    Last July, I resigned as pastor of a church I served for three years. I ...
    16
    What shall I call myself?
    I wish there were a simple thing I could call myself. "I'm a ...." However, ...
    14
    Spirituality vs. Religion
    So I went to the Pagan Pride Day yesterday and had a good time over-all. ...
    12
    Common Ground
    Tomorrow I'm going down to Kzoo to hang with the pagans. It's Pagan Pride Day ...
    11
    9/11
    This is the second anniversary of when we had the shit scarred out of us ...
    10
    Rape!
    Well, I've just been listening to "N.Y. Times" op-ed columnist and economist Paul Krugman describing ...
    09
    Religion
    What a scourge on the earth. Taking people's spiritual longings and fosilizing them. It's been ...
    08
    Abundance
    Abundance is everywhere around us and within us. God has created this world with everything ...
    07
    Summer
    Late summer day. Sun shining beautifully on the trees. Dead cardinal lying on my deck. ...
    05
    Now!
    How does one live life? One day at a time. The past is over and ...
    03
    A Voice of Dissent
    How does one crying in the wilderness get heard today? By blogging and maintaining a ...
    02
    Who Are You?
    Just be your self. Be natural. Whoa! Who knows how to do that? We're so ...
    01
    Labor Day
    Labor Day, USA, 2003, what a joke. What a pity. Millions out of work. Pension ...
  • Aug
    29
    Erotic Love
    Erotic love is one of the best ways to share love between two persons in ...
    28
    Being Part of the Solution
    Yes. We live in some very messed up troubled times. What can we do about ...
    27
    Culture Wars
    Here I am in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Recently considered an "All American City". Now ranked ...
    26
    Improvements
    Life involves many activities that we need to do but would prefer not to. For ...
    24
    A Victory
    This is a good day. My friend and colleague, Rev. Mary Martin, has avoided another ...
    22
    Siddhartha
    This evening, I'm going to Grand Haven, MI to a new church start called Extended ...
    21
    A Wake-up Call to Action
    What a mess this country and the world are in. When you have a guy ...
    20
    Transitions
    Well, life is pretty good inspite of its many shortcomings which include birth, death, disease ...
    19
    Up and Running
    What a struggle it has been to get my blog page up and running on ...
    Another Day of Blogging
    Well, here it is another day of blogging. I customized my blog template to harmonize ...
    18
    Entering the World of Blogging
    This is a new day in which I am entering the world of blogging. I ...
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