The Way of Natural Devotion - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

a way to remember Radha-Krishna and remember them constantly.
Chant, read, write, preach, paint, listen to devotional music, do whatever
you have a passion for. Our passionate desire opens us to grace and
helps us progress. Paths without heart lead nowhere.
According to the Bhagavat Puran, the cultivation of knowledge
and renunciation do not lead to pure love. If we do not make friends
with our full humanity, including our shadow, body, and senses, and
see them as God-dess-given gifts, they become our enemies and undermine
our true self good. False renunciation is never desirable.
The spiritual inhabitants of Braj remain attached to Radha-
Krishna in incomparable, eternal natural devotion of the highest degree.
When devotees follow the model of the devotees of Braj, we call
such devotion “natural devotional practice.”
Following the example of the Braj devotees by imagining that we
live among them engaged in the pastimes of Radha-Krishna constitutes
the essence of natural devotional practice. Followers of Krishna Chaitanya
widely follow this style of practice. It came to me through the line
of teachers founded by Jahnava Thakurani, the wife of Nityananda
Avadhut who spread devotion throughout Bengal under Chaitanya’s order.
In this way, a connection exists with those who went before me to
the eternal Braj and who will be there to welcome me when I arrive.
This process is relational. The disciple relates through the teacher to
the whole line, who serve Radha as her confidantes. Again, this is pure
grace passed from teacher to disciple, and yet it requires cultivation by
the disciple within the heart.
By studying the writings of those who came before us in this line
and related lines, we learn the different ways the eternal associates interact
with the Divine Couple and adapt their moods as we form our
own. In this way, we gradually develop our inner spiritual identity until
we identify more with our spiritual self than our outward self.
The primary trait of natural devotional love is deep attachment
for Radha-Krishna. If we follow the examples of the inhabitants of Braj
out of spiritual desire, we do not care for the injunctions or judgement
of scripture. When we realize the highest goal in life, everything else
pales in comparison. All that has been said and heard and all the rules
and regulations no longer matter much. We become fixed in who we
are and naturally act in love on both the material and spiritual levels.
Everything becomes spiritual when seen in relationship to Radha-
Krishna. We live in Braj wherever we are, and everything we do becomes
devotion. We transcend duality when we realize God-dess and
God-dess’ energies comprise all existence. The eternal exists now.
A fully surrendered devotee always hopes Radha-Krishna will be
kind. This hope becomes firm. Eagerness entails an ardent desire to associate
with Radha-Krishna, and it forms one of the key elements of our
faith—the constant hope that Radha-Krishna will show mercy. We cannot
earn pure love of Radha-Krishna. They give it as a gift. Causeless
mercy flows to surrendered souls because such persons have no other
refuge. Radha-Krishna will not abandon their surrendered devotees.
What kindness do we hope for? Simply that our love may increase,
that we become eternal associates of the Divine Couple, and
that we associate with them more fully.
An ardent desire to serve and associate with Radha more than
Krishna forms the mood of her confidential associates. They do not desire
to enjoy Krishna directly but enjoy many times more by bringing
Radha-Krishna together and sharing in their love.
Chaitanya spoke of Radha in this way, “Radha has unlimited
transcendental qualities of which twenty-five are principal. She controls
Krishna by these qualities” (Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya 23.47).
Of the mistress of Vrindavana these principal qualities are mentioned:
she is sweet, young, has a restless sidelong glance, a glistening
smile, possessed of lines of beauty and good luck, of a fragrance
maddening to Madhava [Krishna], skilled in a multitude of songs, of
charming speech, learned in pleasure, humble, full of compassion,
skillful, witty, modest, most respectful, steadfast, grave, excelling in
pleasurable sport, thirsty for the supreme excellence of great bhavas
[emotions], beloved by those who live in Gokula, whose fame pervades
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