Bhakti Yoga is the term used to describe searching for God with a sincere heart. The beginning, middle, and end of this search lie in love. Even a moment’s intense love for God will give us eternal salvation. Narad ji says in the Bhakti Sutra that God’s Passionate love for someone is devotion. When a person achieves this then everyone becomes his love letter. He does not hate anyone. He will remain satisfied forever. This love cannot achieve any work. It only arises when we keep worldly desires at home. Bhakti is better than work. It is higher than knowledge and yoga. All of them have goals. But devotion is an end and a means.
This is an overview of different paths of spiritual practice. They include Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga, and What is Bhakti Yoga?
Our tradition says that if you want to know the secret of God, you should know the secret of the devotee. If you want to be with God, then stay with the devotee. Devotion lives in the deepest part of the mind. Karma Yoga is the practice of the gross body. Gyan Yoga is the practice of the subtle body. But the sadhana of a devotee is beyond the gross and subtle because it is the sadhana of the body. He has neither the desire for work nor the aspiration of attaining knowledge. He just keeps on singing all eight times to his Lord. Even after giving everything, should I give something else? Now one actively considers the purity of love and resides in the highest state of devotion.
There are three categories of love.
The essence of Bhakti Yoga lies in this purest form of love. There are three categories of love.
The first category:
The first category with which 99 out of 100 people are familiar is the meaning of work. Want to take from another but not give? Lust takes, gives, does not ask, and does not respond. Lust is exploitation, even if one has to pretend to give. One does it because deep down they realize that if you don’t pretend to give, you won’t receive it. But, the intention is only to get, not to give. That is why such people remain angry. Both want to deceive the other by singing the song of love. They have only one desire: to take the other’s feelings in the name of giving love and exploiting them. Both exploit and victimize. No one can get pleasure in this pain.
The second category:
The second category of love is love. The meaning of love is to take as much as you give. Only then is it a clean deal. Work is exploitation but love is not exploitation. Here, as much as you take. Lovers do not receive happiness but receive peace. They get only what they get. Love has no peace, only worries and sorrows. But, in love, there is peace and balance. Deep friendship also develops between lovers.
The third category:
The third category of love is devotion. In this, the devotee only gives and does not think about taking anything. Devotion is an opposite phenomenon. Here the devotee gives everything, he gives himself all. He gives completely and nothing is left behind. This is the surrender in which the giver does not save even himself. He gives even to himself and does not ask for anything in return. He does not desire heaven, salvation, or the world. Demands are raised, and devotion becomes visible instantly. Devotion returns and becomes work. Devotion is real only when the devotee gives all of themselves. They must feel blessed. It is not that the devotees do not get anything. No one gets as much as the devotee gets. Only He alone gets it. But he has no demands, visible or hidden. He just pours out his whole being without saving any of it. As a result, he gets God completely.
What are the Benefits of Bhakti Yoga?
- According to Swami Sivananda, Bhakti Yoga keeps away jealousy. It also keeps away lust, anger, arrogance, pride, and ego.
- Bhakti Yoga uses devotional practices. They can greatly reduce stress and promote well-being. This happens through rhythmic chanting and singing. These practices foster inner peace and calm the nervous system.
- Bhakti Yoga Anand Divya increases ecstatic joy and knowledge. Bhakti Yoga eliminates all worries and tensions, mental anguish, and distress.
- Bhakti Yoga provides a path for emotional healing and change. In it, we try to guide our emotions and desires to the divine.
- Bhakti Yoga helps many people overcome their negative emotions like anger.
- Bhakti Yoga is helping people a lot in overcoming their anger and negative emotions.
How much can we ask?
Bhakti Yoga, described by Saint Kabir, is a practice. It involves deep love and selfless devotion. The devotee’s mind becomes Ram. When this happens, the devotee desires to destroy themselves. This separation compels God to come near to devotion. A devotee can create a vast, tissue-less fire that fills the void from the intense heat of the summer sun. This heat creates pits in the air. Clouds fill them, making a strong attraction. A wise devotee fills this void with love and devotion easily. They succeed with difficulty. As soon as a devotee burns in separation, the clouds of God move towards them. Bhakti Yoga is all about this separation. But, in this separation, there is great joy and sweetness. The sound of separation is like the veena. It keeps cutting inside and resonating. Blessed are those who get the taste of devotion. Baba Kabir continuously plays the veena and speaks on it. He plays the same note. The sound of parting is key for a great union. This union requires purifying each of the five cells.
What are the Panchkoshas?
Yoga says human existence has five parts. The name Panchkoshas identifies them. These cells are like different pools or layers of existence existing simultaneously. The cell experiences the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind. Each cell is closely related to the others. They both influence each other.
