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Krishna Conscious Play Scripts3/24/2021
Lila is an important idea in the traditional worship of Krishna (as prankster) and Shiva (as dancer), and has been used by modern writers like Stephen Nachmanovitch, Fritjof Capra, and Alan Watts.The concept of Lila is common to both non-dualist and dualist philosophical schools of Indian philosophy, but has a markedly different significance in each.Within non-dualism, Lila is a way of describing all reality, including the cosmos, as the outcome of creative play by the divine absolute ( Brahman ).
In the dualistic schools of Vaishnavism, Lila refers to the activities of God and his devotee, as well as the macrocosmic actions of the manifest universe, as seen in the Vaishnava scripture Srimad Bhagavatam, verse 3.26.4: 1. And to say that Brahman has some purpose in creating the world will mean that it wants to attain through the process of creation something which it has not. Hence, there can be no purpose of Brahman in creating the world. Lila indicates a spontaneous sportive activity of Brahman as distinguished from a self-conscious volitional effort. The concept of Lila signifies freedom as distinguished from necessity. This is expressed in the Siva temple in the core image of the sivalinga, an expression of male ( linga ) and female ( yoni ) union. The basic cosmogonic motif of an unfolding or flowering cosmos is expressed here specifically in the relation of male to female, as well as in terms of consciousness and intentionality (in the concept of lila as the divine play of male and female). As such, the core saivite image of cosmogony as the flowering of consciousness and sexual union rather than the sacrificial act. This theme resonates with other Hindu doctrines, such as Tantra and Sakta. Let those who suffer from the toils of samsara seek release: the perfect devotee does not suffer; for he can both visualize and experience life and the universe as the revelation of that Supreme Divine Force ( shakti ) with which he is in love, the all-comprehensive Divine Being in its cosmic aspect of playful, aimless display (lila)which precipitates pain as well as joy, but in its bliss transcends them both. Rohan Bastin, The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in Sri Lanka. This creative activity of the Divine is called lila, the play of God, and the world is seen as the stage of the divine play. Like most of Hindu mythology, the myth of lila has a strong magical flavour. Brahman is the great magician who transforms himself into the world and then performs this feat with his magic creative power, which is the original meaning of maya in the Rig Veda. The word mayaone of the most important terms in Indian philosophyhas changed its meaning over the centuries. From the might, or power, of the divine actor and magician, it came to signify the psychological state of anybody under the spell of the magic play. In the Hindu view of nature, then, all forms are relative, fluid and ever-changing maya, conjured up by the great magician of the divine play. The world of maya changes continuously, because the divine lila is a rhythmic, dynamic play. Karma means action. In the words of the Gita Karma is the force of creation, wherefrom all things have their life. Karma Yoga allows a joyful embrace of all aspects of life (intentional acceptance) while maintaining distinction from the Supreme, while Bhakti and Jnana Yoga advocate striving for oneness with the Supreme.
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