Love Imagination and Reality - The innate creativity in the soul's flight to loving God

Talasiga - Fri, 08 Oct 2004 06:59:48 +0530

QUOTE (Jagat @ Oct 6 2004, 10:50 PM)

(from page 4 of this other topic)

I have of late been using the expression "reimagining Chaitanya Vaishnavism" (on these forums? maybe not.)

Someone might protest: We are not supposed to "imagine" Vaishnavism, but take it "as it is." To put it briefly, it is not so. We are all living in a world of the imagination, and the Vaishnava world of loving devotion, of sympathetic loving communities, a world of beauty where every word is a song, where every step is a dance and where the trees fulfill our every wish, is very much a world of the imagination.

I tend to think that unless we try to actuate that vision in this world, in other words, unless we can prove the power of our imagination by making it reality, the mere thinking of it is inadequate.

But, Mahaprabhu and the Goswamis showed the extent to which imagination on its own had the power to produce change. So let's start our job there: Let us imagine ourselves first of all as ideal servants of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and then imagine ourselves in the midst of a community of like-minded, loving seekers of perfection.

And if what we see around us is wrong, let's try to imagine a better way.

Our capacity to imagine is our likeness in the image of God.

Talasiga - Mon, 08 Nov 2004 11:38:06 +0530

Reality is the material of love made for Holy Play .....

Talasiga - Wed, 01 Dec 2004 15:47:33 +0530

As every new wave upon the sea
So imagination upon reality .....

Talasiga - Fri, 31 Dec 2004 08:19:52 +0530

QUOTE(Jagat @ Dec 30 2004, 01:22 PM)

(imported from this other topic)

Raganuga bhakti means imagining yourself as a part of Radha and Krishna's world, and doing all sadhana in that consciousness. Vidhi bhakti is primarily conducted only in the sadhaka deha--hearing, chanting, etc., are all there, but the goal of being with God (in whatever form) is left in his hands. "Give me whatever service YOU want."

Raganuga bhakti begins with the prayer, "I want specifically THIS in Radha Krishna's world." The raganuga bhakta's sadhana is mystical participation in the divine realm.

Through raganuga bhakti, one quickly ceases all prayers for liberation because one practically loses all consciousness of being a sadhaka. This colors his perception of and participation in this world.

Some posts in this topic at another site which may be tangential to Jagat's post especially the posts of the late JRDD. If you cannot see the relevance you may need to use your imagination.