Tattva-viveka
The Feminine Divine
Prema-bhakti - November 16, 2013 2:43 pm
I posted this blog entry by Pranada on FB as well but I figure I may get more philosophical feedback here.
I have been confronted a few times personally about the use of "feminine" as a descriptive as well as using the male/female dichotomy as it being outdated or objectionable. Those who grew up with a more post modern sensibility (just ask my two sons) are not conditioned to seeing things like. I get that.
Would like to get some feedback. Explanations of purusa and prakrti seem to heavily lean on that male/female dichotomy.
Would also like to write about these topics. Any discussion would be helpful.
Transcript of Talk
Bhakti's popularity is on the rise. The more interest grows, the more often I hear people ask, What exactly is the Way of the Feminine Divine?
The answers are often inaccurate, ill-informed, not comprehensive, and confusing. I'm determined to change this.
Bhakti is an elaborate metaphysical, mystical, and philosophical wisdom tradition that teaches life is intelligently designed to give us the opportunity to master giving and receiving unconditional love to our Self, others, our environment, and the divine.
To help you understand, I'll give you a framework by way of a quick comparison.
Bhakti is a way of Being, just as Zen is a way of Being. Bhakti is intentional heartfulness; Buddhism is intentional mindfulness.Each way of Being has their teachers. Chaitanya is to Bhakti as Buddha is to Buddhism.
The Way of the Feminine Divine can fill some gaping, numbing holes in our collective and individual hearts, give us meaning and make sense of our unique modern experience.
Our desire for pure love and reconnecting with the Feminine Divine is bulging out all over our secular and spiritual lives and we are so close to answers we can practically taste it.
Bhakti is equally applicable for both men and women, yet it is with special interest I encourage women to understand the power of the Feminine Divine and recognize our inherent advantage in developing its perspective and attitude. Women are wired to become generous masters of relationships and givers of unconditional love, though we generally only tap the limited, conditional side of our soul's potential.
If one of your passions is to become empowered—if you'd like to see other women empowered and in places of leadership; if you support establishing women's rights and equality, and ending the atrocities and abuse of women and children, then the lynchpin for finally grounding that effort is in our hands when we understand the power of the Feminine Divine and apply it in to transform ourselves and others.
A great responsibility and exciting gift is passed to us. As responsible universal citizens, we can to take the Feminine Divine into both our secular and spiritual circles and far beyond addressing just women's rights and equality—the world is ill on many fronts.
Let's take our roles as spiritual activists.
I like Bhakti as a way of Being. My life is rich beyond measure; I find peace in even the most distressing, disorienting situations.This state of Being did not come without a price. I paid dearly and I'd like to help you avoid some of the spins and pitfalls I took and reach sustenance faster than I did.
My blog Little Ways of Being™ is my attempt to offer you this service. I'm committed to assisting you in your journey to bring more genuine love into your life, enhance your relationships, grow your creative muses, find your pure Self, your voice, power, and gifts, gain mastery over your emotions with a wide-open heart, and allow you to tap into the power, intuition, and guidance of the Feminine Divine and pure love that controls and inspires everyone.
Understanding the way of the Feminine Divine and the state of Being in heartfulness, is simple to grasp, but takes practice to live. You'll find a wealth of practical and intellectual material here to quench your thirst.
However much you choose to investigate the Way of the Feminine Divine, I believe you'll find Bhakti worthy of attention, fascinating, elegant, interesting, provocative and very practical. There is truly a valuable nugget in Bhakti for everyone. Please take yours.Please stay for a while and explore. Join our growing community to bring more heartfulness to our mindfulness and sign up for the newsletter. Come back and gather more inspiration. Feel free to ask questions and let me know, How can I be of service to you?
I look forward to getting to know you. A million hearts for you and those around you,
Gauravani Dasa - November 17, 2013 4:21 pm
I have been confronted a few times personally about the use of "feminine" as a descriptive as well as using the male/female dichotomy as it being outdated or objectionable. Those who grew up with a more post modern sensibility (just ask my two sons) are not conditioned to seeing things like. I get that.
Prema, I am often asked about this too and I'm never sure how to answer the question with gender neutrality. I've tried talking about how much regard we have for the asraya alambana and how Krishna himself holds such love in high regard, but without considering God an "it" rather than a "he", such an answer doesn't seem to satisfy. And I think the emphasis on God as an "it" leans heavily towards a nirguna brahman orientation. That Radha and Krishna are one from the perspective of tattva may help, but his does not play out in lila.
Not sure if this is much help (or if I've misunderstood your question) but I would also like to hear other's thoughts on this subject as well. It is interesting that postmodern thought tends to do away with gender distinctions.
Prema-bhakti - November 17, 2013 7:33 pm
Thank you Gauravani. No, you are on point.
Prema-bhakti - November 18, 2013 4:31 pm
Gauravani, I do think the idea is more of "gender fluidity" rather than being without gender as is implied by the nirguna brahman orientation. My sixteen year old often uses the expression "gender fluid" to express his post modern sensibilities in this regard. Caitanya Mahaprabhu seems to me to represent "gender fluidity" in it's most divine esoteric expression but I could be over reaching here. I hope someone can comment further.
Tadiya Dasi - November 18, 2013 7:47 pm
Prema, I took note of this blog entry by Pranada in Facebook but haven't had the time nor the energy to really think this through but I just wanted to thank you for starting the discussion about it 
I'll try and come back to this thread if/when I have something (at least half-intelligent) to say about it 
Prema-bhakti - November 18, 2013 10:18 pm
You always have wonderful things to contribute Tadiya!!!
Swami - November 19, 2013 12:12 am
Many people, educators included, have dispensed with the notion of distinct biological sexes—male/female. The idea is that there is not really a clear distinction between the two. Instead there is considerable variation in many areas: chromosomes, hormone levels, body hair, bone structure, psychology, etc. And even meaningfully distinct genitalia are thought to not really exist except perhaps as exceptions (I won't go into details here)! As such, purely feminine vs a purely male persons exist only in the minds of the less informed.
The blog speaks about the divine feminine. That may be dated, as feminism arguably plays into the so-called male female dichotomy, which is thought to be a harmful notion.
In my own preaching I don’t think I have played to the “feminine.” I have always used the Sanskrit term sakti and underscored bhakti-tattva, referring to it with words like “love” (which is neither masculine or feminine ) and tying love to sacrifice—noble and heartening notions that appeal to the hearts of all good people.
Prema-bhakti - November 19, 2013 7:28 am
Interesting points. The term "sakti" has been popularized to imply female empowerment, female creative principle, etc. Sometimes I think of it as a sort of modern day "shaktism" and think about how to address that in the context of bhakti and our tradition.