http://www.swadharma.org/2010/03/25/why-pray-part-ii/ The voice of Dharma Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:48:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 http://www.swadharma.org/2010/03/25/why-pray-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-1190 Anjali Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:50:20 +0000 http://www.swadharma.org/?p=2507#comment-1190 The idea of a friendship with God reminds me of the story of Mirabai, who, from childhood, took Krishna to be her beloved lord.  Although many interpretations focus on the "lord" aspect - a devotion that clearly puts Mirabai below and beneath the all-powerful; I like to consider the notion that Mirabai saw Krishna as her closest friend, who is there when she needs someone most (he indeed saves her life). This Mirabai is one whose tale inspired me to consider God a friend, a companion, as well.  It strikes me as very different from the Judaic God who is not a friend, but an awesome, holier-than-thou (literally!), protector to be feared and obeyed. One question that arises with the idea of God being a friend is that of a power struggle.  In our world, it tends to be difficult (though not impossible) for those of extremely different levels of power and authority to be friends: parents and children, teachers and students, employees and employers, etc.  If we indeed see God as all-powerful, which we are not, then how can we overcome that infinite difference (if a finite difference is hard enough) to form a friendship? The idea of a friendship with God reminds me of the story of Mirabai, who, from childhood, took Krishna to be her beloved lord.  Although many interpretations focus on the “lord” aspect – a devotion that clearly puts Mirabai below and beneath the all-powerful; I like to consider the notion that Mirabai saw Krishna as her closest friend, who is there when she needs someone most (he indeed saves her life).
This Mirabai is one whose tale inspired me to consider God a friend, a companion, as well.  It strikes me as very different from the Judaic God who is not a friend, but an awesome, holier-than-thou (literally!), protector to be feared and obeyed.
One question that arises with the idea of God being a friend is that of a power struggle.  In our world, it tends to be difficult (though not impossible) for those of extremely different levels of power and authority to be friends: parents and children, teachers and students, employees and employers, etc.  If we indeed see God as all-powerful, which we are not, then how can we overcome that infinite difference (if a finite difference is hard enough) to form a friendship?

]]>