The Way of Natural Devotion - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

ondary characteristics vary greatly. Therefore, various people’s ideas of
God-dess, although essentially similar, differ in the details. This creates
variety in the modes of God-dess worship. Objectively, there is nothing
wrong with secondary differences. When agreement exists regarding
God-dess’ essential nature and worship, no obstacles stand in the way
of attaining the same result.
When I was a relatively new member of the United Church of
Christ (UCC), I asked our interim pastor, Ross Knotts, an old, United
Methodist minister, how I could be a Christian when John 14:6 says, “I
am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.” I told him I was a devotee of Krishna and that
Swamiji used to say, “Christ, Christos, Krishna, what’s the difference?”
Ross replied, “If Christ equals love and Krishna equals love, then Christ
equals Krishna.” Love is the way by any name you call it. Krishna, Jesus,
and Chaitanya taught love of God-dess according to time, circumstance,
and the ability of people to understand and accept.
People of each country respect their native saints, but no one
with a particular spiritual belief should go to other countries and
preach that what their teachers taught is superior to all other teachings.
This benefits no one. Each country’s particular religious rules concerning
proper dress, food, purity, and impurity naturally cause various religions
to appear quite different. It is wrong and unhealthy to argue
over these differences. Pure love constitutes the eternal function of the
soul. Although differences exist among religions, the essential universal
religion is pure love.
Universalist Radha-Krishnaism integrates progressive, Christian
principles in that we:
1 Accept Radha-Krishna as our way of envisioning God-dess
and the spiritual realm.
2 Recognize the validity of other names for God-dess and other
ways to God-dess’ realm.
3 Understand God-dess wants all creatures to enjoy life abundantly.
4 Welcome all persons without discrimination to join our fellowship,
including (but not limited to): believers and agnostics,
traditional devotees and questioning skeptics, homosexuals
and heterosexuals, females and males, those of all races
and cultures, and those of all classes and abilities, without trying
to make them become like us.
5 How we treat others and live with integrity remains more important
than beliefs.
6 Prefer a questioning search for truth to the certainty of dogma.
7 See spiritual life integrated with work in the world, which includes
working for peace, justice, and the integrity of the environment.
8 Realize faith entails sacrifice for the greater good, embracing
high ethical standards, and opposing corruption.
Thus, we develop love within a progressive Western, intellectual-cultural
context. Establishing an indigenous Radha-Krishna devotional
culture is the next evolutionary step for Chaitanyaism. It is called Universalist
Radha-Krishnaism.
Of all conceptions of God-dess, Radha-Krishna remain the most
suitable for developing pure love. Radha-Krishna live in the spiritual
abode of Braj as the object of their devotees pure love. Elsewhere, devotees
worship and revere them as the Supreme God-dess, but in Braj,
their sweetness prevails over their majesty. They sometimes descend to
the level of their worshipper, and sometimes even subordinate themselves
to their devotees. This allows us to engage in an intimate relationship
of love with God-dess. God-dess embodies the highest sport,
free will, and eagerness for our love.
Different languages use different words to describe Radha-
Krishna, their associates, and Braj, but persons interested in pure love
of God-dess must use some name, place, form, and pastimes to symbolize
God-dess and the spiritual world. Therefore, though described
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