The Unresolved Longing as Spiritual Practice

Mirabai never 'got over' Krishna—her longing was permanent, and she made no attempt to transcend it into detachment. The ache was her practice. For those anticipating civilizational loss, this teaches acceptance of permanent grief. We may not live to see restoration of the climate, justice for all peoples, or the thriving future we hoped for. The losses may not be reversed in our lifetime. Spiritual maturity in this context means not waiting for resolution to begin living fully, nor pretending the ache will disappear. Instead, unresolved longing becomes the ground of practice: we love and work for a world we may not see, we grieve losses we cannot undo, we hold both heartbreak and commitment simultaneously. This is not defeatism but a clear-eyed devotion to what matters, whether or not it delivers the outcome we desired. Mirabai's life proves that unresolved longing need not embitter; it can deepen, ripen, and become its own form of grace.