Jungle Dispatch



A New Life Update

A strong Taoist streak permeates my spirituality. I’ve long consulted and followed the I Ching. I think of it as a way to have a direct, personal conversation with Cosmic Consciousness. Early last year, I did a general reading, and to my surprise, it told me I reached the goal of my spiritual practices to […]


Back from Sabbatical

I am back from sabbatical, ready to engage the world again. I stopped following news, thinking (as much as possible), and doing spiritual practices meant to get me to Braj in the next life (or anywhere else). Rather, I focused on studying Taoism and Zen with Alan Watts and others, enjoy life here and now […]


Chaitanya’s Archetypal Possession

Many devotees see the sixteenth century Bengali saint and mystic, Krishna Chaitanya, even in his own lifetime, as an incarnation of Radha-Krishna in one body manifesting the archetype of spiritual androgyny. Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: The Way of Natural Devotion (41) When questioned further about this, I often respond that he experienced archetypal possession. Here’s what I […]


Tulsi Gabbard for President?

Yesterday, I became aware of this video on Facebook in response to a supporter of Tulsi Gabbard’s post. The person who posted it said, “I really really like her …but the whole Hari Krishna connection she has not spoken about…. being Hindu is great lovely way of life…. Hari Krishna movement is a cult…” Of […]


PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS

My recent study of Stoicism and Existentialism finds them lacking, although not without redeeming qualities. Existentialism says our life answers the question, “What is the meaning of life?” better than our philosophy may. To this end, I lived my life as art to make a statement that I present in An Authentic Life: A Spiritual […]


THE PRACTITIONER

The Way of Natural Devotion is quite simple and easy. At the same time, it is demanding and rigorous. The practitioner best approaches the path with a highly developed character that includes the traditional values of service to God-dess, country, family, and friends. The practitioner is a person of dignity, restraint, and discernment who follows […]


Natural Devotion 9: Radha-Krishna

Steve Bohlert comments on these lines from his book: “The extreme love shared by Radha-Krishna and their devotees feels especially sweet and attractive. Radha-Krishna invite everyone to join their intimate community of lovers. . . . God-dess created infinite beings for infinite new loving relationships. Radha-Krishna hide their awesome, majestic nature and emphasize their sweet, […]


Natural Devotion 8: No Cult Guru

Drawing on my experience, I warn people of the dangers of a cult while offering an alternative approach to Radha-Krishna devotion.


Natural Devotion 7: The Practice

“Practitioners nurture interdependence more than independence because relatedness increases enjoyment. . . . People influence the future by how they live in the present, the consciousness they develop, and most importantly, the loving relationship they develop with Radha-Krishna. Devotees envision their desired future and enlist the aid of God-dess to get them there by living […]


Natural Devotion 6: God-dess

“God-dess means god-goddess, the Divine Couple, Radha-Krishna, energy-energetic, ground of all being, primal cause. . . . God-dess gives abundant grace to all. . . . God-dess intimately relates to the world, enjoying and responding to and through all beings. God-dess dynamically experiences and adapts to creation. God-dess remains ever-fresh like youth or spring. . […]