Ours is a tantric tradition in many respects—nana-tantra-vidhanena. Thus the Goswamis have cited the relevant tantras for Gaudiya Vaisnavas. If one prefers a prakrita sahayjia take on Mahaprabhu, that is another thing.
Furthermore, I would not depict homosexuality as neutral. Even within homosexuality there is a male and female sensibility. And I think you make a bit too much out of our material sexuality in terms of identifying it with an eternal identity.
As for Param Brahma flowing in two distinct currents, one is Param Brahma the other is his sakti. Whatever one does in the Vraja lila in rasananda, even if it is an expression of love between two devotees, it is centered on the pleasure of Sri Krsna and thus constitutes a relationship between purusa and prakriti. Such a loving exchange between Nanda and Yasoda, for example, is a sancari-bhava that augments their sthayi-bhava for Krsna. Sri Rupa calls it suhrit-rati—”love of the friend.”
comment by Swami B. V. Tripurari on the article “The Authentic Self.”
Comments
3 Responses
06.24.2011
I think one of the things that continuously injures the homosexual identity, which for us has been hard earned, is when Absolute Reality also conforms to the heteronormative metaphor in which male-female, Param Brahman-sakti, Krishna-Radha, etc. What is difficult for us is not so much that reality should be discussed in this manner, as reproductive (or reproductive capable) metaphors, but that we never have Absolute Reality being discussed in homosexual metaphors. In fact, if the reader just had a strong reaction to reading this last sentence, it may be because the idea of the Absolute being discussed in this manner still repulses or scares us.
There may not be a direct correlation between material identities and eternal identities, but heterosexuals can find their identities, passions, and longings reflected in eternal reality whereas homosexuals always have to find a way to widdle ourselves into a heterosexual model in order to see ourselves There. It is extremely injurious to our identity, I would even dare state traumatizing, to not see ourselves reflected in the world; eternal or material. In the comment you make about homosexuality not being neutral and that homosexality has male-female aspects, you are implying such a conformity to heteronormativity. It may be so, but it is still injurious.
I don’t think any religious tradition has such a metaphor, but I do not think that means we should make one up. And are there not a heterosexual roles within a homosexual relationship? No offense or insult intended.
If you look in almost any esoteric tradition there is almost ALWAYS a macrocausmic representation of the male-female principle we find on this planet expressed in terms of symbolism.. sun and moon, God & Shekinah, Shiva and Shakti, consciousness and energy, Krsna and yoga-maya, mother earth and father sky, mind and subconscious, everywhere you look this principle is to be found.. Are you saying that these ancient mystics were somehow homophobic and this translated into their theories to such an all-pervading extent? As above, so below, as the old adage goes, and when you look here you see males and females walking the planet.. I think if someone is really feeling that there is a lack of ‘homosexual metaphors’ or whatnot they are identifying a little too much with this body and current “me” that they find themselves in.. I think in the finite sense someone can think of themselves as a homosexual, but in the eternal immortal sense can you really define yourself as being gay? No doubt there is an aspect of your self identity that may be preserved which may have produced the effect of homosexuality in this life, but can you really really say that being a homosexual is your eternal, unending position ?
I also am not trying to offend while discussing this sensitive subject but having studied the majority of esoteric traditions that are out there I always find the male/female principle all over the place.. and I sincerely doubt that it has anything to do with homophobia.. Hare Krsna