Essential teachings

Universalist Radha-Krishnaism comes under the heading of panentheism, which the Oxford American Dictionary defines as “the belief or doctrine that God is greater than the universe and includes and interpenetrates it.” God-dess manifests personally as Radha-Krishna, impersonally as the Undifferentiated One, and as an immanent, all-pervading presence–Cosmic Consciousness.

The more limiting and constraining our definition of God, the easier it is to disprove. God-dess is unlimited and undefinable. We do not want to worship a God that is too small and cannot stand up to intellectual scrutiny.

Paragraph

ESSENTIAL TEACHINGS
  1. God-dess means god-goddess, the Divine Couple, Radha-Krishna, energy-energetic, ground of all being, primal cause.
  2. God-dess is known through scriptures, spiritual teachers, devotion, innate knowing, and spiritual teachings of all cultures through the ages to varying degrees.
  3. While recognizing truth in all authentic spiritual paths, Universalist Radha-Krishnaism focuses on creating an indigenous, western expression of devotion to God-dess based on the teachings of Bhaktivinode Thakur. It employes interfaith studies and critical analytical methods of interpretation.
  4. Universalist Radha-Krishnaism establishes a living, evolving process of God-dess realization rooted in traditional, Indian devotion, yet updated to preserve the essentials and discard unnecessary cultural practices that alienate practitioners from contemporary society.
  5. Natural devotion is based on principles of liberty, truth, and love. It combines devotional love with intellectual honesty and openness. Devotees open themselves to God-dess’ leading through total self-surrender.
  6. Practitioners live as spiritual beings on Earth, one with Earth and life. God-dess pervades all. Practitioners embrace a lifestyle of simple living and high thinking. They offer all to God-dess as a living sacrifice of love, are vessels of divine love, and live in accord with eternal spiritual values. Devotees live in the present as fully participating members of local and global society, working for the well-being of all, according to their ability.
  7. Practitioners work in coalition with those of like mind to address issues of peace, justice, and the environment. They seek commonalities rather than differences so that love may unite all people as the realm of God-dess manifests on Earth.
  8. This transitory life involves much suffering even in the best of times. Therefore, practitioners only pass through the material plane and evolve their consciousness to enter an eternal spiritual existence beyond spacetime. They then dwell in the world of Radha-Krishna with their eternal spiritual associates.
  9. Practitioners do not earn their way there, but open themselves to God-dess’ love and grace. All God-dess asks in return is love. Establishing a loving relationship with Radha-Krishna is the key. There is no one way this love develops. Devotees each find their unique way to God-dess as God-dess attracts them.
  10. By clarifying their vision of the spiritual world and transferring their thoughts and desires from here to there, at the inevitable time of death, practitioners let go of this life and enter the next as if walking through a doorway.
  11. Practitioners pursue their ultimate best interests in this life and the next. Eternity exists now. This life naturally flows into the next based on a person’s actions and desires. Devotees seek full realization of their true nature in loving relationship to Radha-Krishna in their eternal spiritual world.
Spread the love