Universalist Radha-Krishnaism


Aloha. Welcome to the Universalist Radha-Krishnaism website. I hope you will take the time to look around and see the opportunities for spiritual growth we offer those in the Kingdom of Hawai'i and the world. Click to email me.	An Introduction Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: A Spirituality of Liberty, Truth, and Love awakens the soul to its natural state of divine love and establishes an intimate, personal relationship with God-dess. It presents esoteric Indian spiritual wisdom in plain English from a postmodern, Western perspective. Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Goswami) lived in India as an itinerant Hindu monk and served as a Christian pastor in the Midwest. His intimate knowledge of Hindu and Christian spirituality inspires seekers to rapidly progress on the path to full God-dess realization, which increases enjoyment in this life and the next. In Hindu Encounter with Modernity, Shukavak N. Dasa says: If Caitanya Vaisnavism is to become indigenous to the modern and even Western world, then it must similarly adapt to the conditions of modernity and to the West. I suggest that if Caitanya Vaisnavism is going to have a lasting position and a positive impact on the West, then it must intellectually move beyond the literalism by which it entered the West and begin to develop new forms of intellectual expressions and perspectives that are a part of the Western intellectual and academic traditions. Bhaktivinoda’s work provides the basis for such a development. (255) Spiritual teacher, Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Goswami) makes the bold move of redefining and reforming Chaitanya Vaishnavism from an indigenous, Western postmodern intellectual perspective. Others present a traditional perspective which tends toward literal, fundamentalism. Many scholarly books also examine this tradition, which is one of the leading branches of Hinduism. Bohlert presents a major reformation of Chaitanyaism adapting it to the needs of today’s cultural creatives, also known as new progressives. Universalist Radha-Krishnaism is the fruit of a lifetime of spiritual teaching and practice in multicultural contexts. Universalist Radha-Krishnaism offers a complete philosophical system along with spiritual practices persons can incorporate into their daily life. The basis is devotion to God-dess, Radha Krishna, the Divine Couple. These teachings were formerly developed by the sixteenth century, Bengali reformer, saint, and mystic, Krishna Chaitanya (1486-1533), and his followers. Chaitanya is known as the Eastern Savior. These teachings came to Bohlert through his gurus, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (1896-1977) and Lalita Prasad Thakur (1880-1980), Lalita Prasad’s father, Bhaktivinode Thakur (1838-1914) began the work of adapting Chaitanya’s teachings to a Western educated audience. Steve Bohlert makes the interpretive leap from an indigenous, contemporary Western paradigm. In today’s troubled times, persons thirst for self-knowledge and a sense of interconnection with God-dess and all being. They hunger for higher purpose and meaning in life. Most religions lack an appealing vision of eternal spiritual life and a practical means to attain it. While traditional Chaitanyaism offers those things, it remains inaccessible and impractical for most Westerners. Its Indian cultural externals obscure its essence and create a cult image as we see in the Krishna Movement, which introduced Chaitanyaism to the West in the 1960s. Their literalist interpretation leads to narrow fundamentalism. Fundamentalist religions of all stripes tend to be life denying. Universalist Radha-Krishnaism offers: A practical spirituality persons may harmoniously practice in their current life situation A vision of eternal life as an intimate associate of Radha Krishna, the Divine Couple, and the means to actualize it Affirmation of the goodness and grace in this life, which is permeated by God-dess’ loving presence The knowledge needed for the reader to begin the path of loving devotion A dynamic, creative faith, which promotes liberty of thought and practice free of untenable dogma. As we gain knowledge of the self related to God-dess and the world through divine love, this leads to a sense of interconnectedness with all existence--material and spiritual. A heightened sense of freedom, fulfillment, and enjoyment of life is the natural consequence. To effect these favorable results, Steve Bohlert: Uses contemporary language and ideas consistent with progressive, Western thought Highlights the essential teachings without Indian cultural externals Draws from the best interfaith sources to offer a universalist, core wisdom teaching Eliminates Sanskrit technical terms and makes the teachings understandable by Western lay persons new to Radha Krishnaism and Vedic thought. Dr. M. Valle, who teaches college level philosophy and religion says: Many Westerners are attracted to diverse aspects of Hinduism and, in particular, devotion to Radha Krishna, but soon find themselves alienated by two factors: an inescapable emphasis on “Indian-ness” and the uncompromising literalism of the movement as it has come to the West. Steve Bohlert’s approach to spirituality merges Western and Eastern thought by de-emphasizing cultural trappings and literalism, while maintaining a passionate emotional bond with the Supreme Being in this especially effective form of the Divine Couple, Radha-Krishna.
Copyright 2003-08 Steve Bohlert

An Introduction

Universalist Radha-Krishnaism: A Spirituality of Liberty, Truth, and Love awakens the soul to its natural state of divine love and establishes an intimate, personal relationship with God-dess. It presents esoteric Indian spiritual wisdom in plain English from a postmodern, Western perspective. Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Goswami) lived in India as an itinerant Hindu monk and served as a Christian pastor in the Midwest. His intimate knowledge of Hindu and Christian spirituality inspires seekers to rapidly progress on the path to full God-dess realization, which increases enjoyment in this life and the next.

In Hindu Encounter with Modernity, Shukavak N. Dasa says:

If Caitanya Vaisnavism is to become indigenous to the modern and even Western world, then it must similarly adapt to the conditions of modernity and to the West. I suggest that if Caitanya Vaisnavism is going to have a lasting position and a positive impact on the West, then it must intellectually move beyond the literalism by which it entered the West and begin to develop new forms of intellectual expressions and perspectives that are a part of the Western intellectual and academic traditions. Bhaktivinoda’s work provides the basis for such a development. (255)

Spiritual teacher, Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Goswami) makes the bold move of redefining and reforming Chaitanya Vaishnavism from an indigenous, Western postmodern intellectual perspective. Others present a traditional perspective which tends toward literal, fundamentalism. Many scholarly books also examine this tradition, which is one of the leading branches of Hinduism. Bohlert presents a major reformation of Chaitanyaism adapting it to the needs of today’s cultural creatives, also known as new progressives. Universalist Radha-Krishnaism is the fruit of a lifetime of spiritual teaching and practice in multicultural contexts.

Universalist Radha-Krishnaism offers a complete philosophical system along with spiritual practices persons can incorporate into their daily life. The basis is devotion to God-dess, Radha Krishna, the Divine Couple. These teachings were formerly developed by the sixteenth century, Bengali reformer, saint, and mystic, Krishna Chaitanya (1486-1533), and his followers. Chaitanya is known as the Eastern Savior. These teachings came to Bohlert through his gurus, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (1896-1977) and Lalita Prasad Thakur (1880-1980), Lalita Prasad’s father, Bhaktivinode Thakur (1838-1914) began the work of adapting Chaitanya’s teachings to a Western educated audience. Steve Bohlert makes the interpretive leap from an indigenous, contemporary Western paradigm.

In today’s troubled times, persons thirst for self-knowledge and a sense of interconnection with God-dess and all being. They hunger for higher purpose and meaning in life. Most religions lack an appealing vision of eternal spiritual life and a practical means to attain it. While traditional Chaitanyaism offers those things, it remains inaccessible and impractical for most Westerners. Its Indian cultural externals obscure its essence and create a cult image as we see in the Krishna Movement, which introduced Chaitanyaism to the West in the 1960s. Their literalist interpretation leads to narrow fundamentalism. Fundamentalist religions of all stripes tend to be life denying.

Universalist Radha-Krishnaism offers:

A practical spirituality persons may harmoniously practice in their current life situation
A vision of eternal life as an intimate associate of Radha Krishna, the Divine Couple, and the means to actualize it
Affirmation of the goodness and grace in this life, which is permeated by God-dess’ loving presence
The knowledge needed for the reader to begin the path of loving devotion
A dynamic, creative faith, which promotes liberty of thought and practice free of untenable dogma.

As we gain knowledge of the self related to God-dess and the world through divine love, this leads to a sense of interconnectedness with all existence--material and spiritual. A heightened sense of freedom, fulfillment, and enjoyment of life is the natural consequence.

To effect these favorable results, Steve Bohlert:

Uses contemporary language and ideas consistent with progressive, Western thought
Highlights the essential teachings without Indian cultural externals
Draws from the best interfaith sources to offer a universalist, core wisdom teaching
Eliminates Sanskrit technical terms and makes the teachings understandable by Western lay persons new to Radha Krishnaism and Vedic thought.

Dr. M. Valle, who teaches college level philosophy and religion says:

Many Westerners are attracted to diverse aspects of Hinduism and, in particular, devotion to Radha Krishna, but soon find themselves alienated by two factors: an inescapable emphasis on “Indian-ness” and the uncompromising literalism of the movement as it has come to the West. Steve Bohlert’s approach to spirituality merges Western and Eastern thought by de-emphasizing cultural trappings and literalism, while maintaining a passionate emotional bond with the Supreme Being in this especially effective form of the Divine Couple, Radha-Krishna.