Reframing civilization as the object of devotional love, allowing us to grieve its potential loss with the intensity and tenderness Mirabai brought to divine love.
Mirabai's bhakti tradition teaches that love is not passive sentiment but radical commitment to the beloved, even unto suffering and social exile. By recognizing civilization—its arts, knowledge, interconnections, and possibilities—as the beloved, we shift anticipatory grief from abstract anxiety to embodied devotion. This frames the work of preservation and renewal not as duty or despair, but as an act of love. Mirabai sang to Krishna even as her world rejected her; we can sing to the world we cherish, acknowledging both its beauty and fragility. This concept transforms grief from paralysis into purposeful longing, the way a bhakti practitioner's tears are not despair but proof of deep attachment and commitment to what matters most.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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