Using the bhakti practice of sustained, intimate relationship with the divine as a model for children to maintain ongoing connection with deceased loved ones.
In bhakti, the relationship with the divine is not a one-time conversion or achievement but a continuous, intimate, evolving dialogue—expressed through song, prayer, service, and presence. This offers grieving children a powerful alternative to the Western narrative of "closure" or "moving on." Rather than treating the relationship with a deceased person as something to end, children can be supported in understanding it as transformed but continuing. A child might maintain connection through memory practices, ritual, artwork, storytelling, or acts of service that honor the person they've lost. Mirabai's constant address to Krishna—across decades, through changing circumstances—models how a relationship can deepen and evolve even through absence and longing. This concept validates children's intuitive knowing that love doesn't end with death; it changes form. By framing ongoing connection as a spiritual practice rather than an unhealthy attachment, we help children develop a mature, relational spirituality where the dead remain present, consulted, loved, and honored as part of their inner life.
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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