When i was 13/14 I had a teenage relationship with a girl called Marie. It was a particuliar hard time for me because i was hardly bullied on those years.
She showed me so much love, and so did I. It was beyond physical level, pure love.
Then life went on, we changed school and I slowly turned my mind onto other activities because I wanted to let go of that period.
Very recently, I heard that she had become a nurse, and that she’s right now in Yemen, healing casualties of the numerous terror attacks. In fact she’s literally risking her life everyday. I see her now as an angel like being, or even a Holy being (to which she belongs just by looking at her name).This night I had a dream of us two finding each other and hugging. Again nothing physical, just pure love.
Beyond words.
After reading lesson 67 about Bakhti, where intense emotions bring the whole process forward, I wonder now if I could chose her as my Ishta.
Yes, you can certainly take a person you know as your ishta, especially if they embody the qualities that you aspire to. Krishna actually did this with Radha. Many people think that Radha was Krishna’s girlfriend, or wife, as he had so much love for her, and spent so much time with her. She was actually his mother’s sister, so his maternal aunt. Krishna did have a few wives, but none of them were Radha. Krishna simply loved Radha and was devoted to her. This love is often said to be similar to the way someone loves the divine.
Ramakrishna took his wife to be his ishta at one point, worshiping her as someone would worship a goddess. He did it in order to see if someone could attain liberation by worshipping their wife. He said it worked!
The more strongly someone embodies the divine qualities of love, inner strength and surrender of personal desires, the more effective it will be to take them as your ishta.
I’m so glad you shared this, thank you. Not only did you find & love each other during your formative years, but it sounds as though her selfless service to others as an adult is stirring that deep spiritual longing inside your heart. Pure love, as you say, over the physical. How beautiful!
I have a similar figure in my life that I met a few years ago. She’s a couple decades older than me, but there was an immediate connection that went beyond the mundane plane of existence. And again, it’s her mature love and service to those around her that really pulls my heartstrings. She inspires me and I’ve always thought of her as a (the?) guiding light in my life, or perhaps a guardian angel. All this to say that I can relate and have had the same question, so thanks again.
Anyways, I hope that whatever position you give her in your life facilitates the outpouring of divine love for all.
