Bhakti vs Prapatti

[Guest guest]

I had the same or similar question as to how there can be bhakti

without Prapatti. I got all the more confused because Bhakti Yoga as

defined by the Hare Krishnas was what was emphasized as the highest

and easiest form of worship. I asked many people whom I considered

to be scholars and I got as many different answers as the number of

people the question was put. Finally I got the answer by reading

Ramanuja's Gita Bhasya's English introduction (I forget the author)

and Vedanta Deshika's minor rahasyas. Another term for Bhakti Yoga

is Ashtanga Yoga. One uses the processes of Yama, Niyama, Pranayama

etc to concentrate their attention on Sriman Narayana. The important

difference here is the emphasis on one's own effort. We have to

successfully follow these processes till one is able to remember

Sriman Narayana at the time of death. On the other hand in Prapatti

the mere act of Prapatti itself ensures that this is the last life we

have as a baddha soul. There are only two exceptions to this rule.

One does not offend a Bhagavata or one who is very dear to the Lord.

The only other act that could make the Prapatti ineffective is

Worship of any Devata that has His or Her loka within this material

world. This includes Shiva and His family, Brahma, Saraswati etc.

Surrender to Krishna is also important in the Hare Krishna faith,

with the difference being that one has to endeavour to please Krishna

throughout one's lifetime and being pleased with the devotee's

sincere efforts Krishna blesses the individual with rememberence of

the Lord at the moment of death. Thus Bhakti Yoga as used by

Ramanuja and His successors is very different from Bhakti Yoga as

defined in Vrindavan and North Indian Sampradayas. The latter is

very close though not identical to Prapatti.

 

Jaganath.

[Guest guest]

[deleted]

> and Vedanta Deshika's minor rahasyas. Another term for Bhakti Yoga

> is Ashtanga Yoga.

 

This is the first time I hear Bhakti yoga being equated to ashtanga yoga.

My understanding was Ashtanga yoga refered to Patanjali's yoga

which again does not explicitly accept a Personal God.

 

Raghu

[Guest guest]

On Oct 17, 7:44pm, raghunath govindachari wrote:

> Re: Bhakti vs Prapatti

> [deleted]

>

> > and Vedanta Deshika's minor rahasyas. Another term for Bhakti Yoga

> > is Ashtanga Yoga.

>

> This is the first time I hear Bhakti yoga being equated to ashtanga yoga.

> My understanding was Ashtanga yoga refered to Patanjali's yoga

> which again does not explicitly accept a Personal God.

>

> Raghu

I am also puzzled at this. But Jay's description of the practice of bhakti yoga

in SriVaishnavism involves the practice of yama, niyama, pranayama.., to

meditate on Lord Narayana and hence is similar to the ashtanga yoga. Still

wonder if the equation ashtanga = bhakti yoga holds because to my knowledge the

general ashtanga of Patanjali does not require one to meditate on Sriman

Narayana as the Paramatma but only on His formless Brahman.

(correct me as necessary).

 

thanks,

ravi.

---------------------------kirtaniyah sada Hari-----------------------------