Shankara and Bhakti (further citations)

[Guest guest]

greetings. here are the rest of the citations for shankara on bhakti. i

apologize for honoring the request so late.

 

maxwell.

 

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.. . . But, says the Lord, those who do not have faith in this knowledge of the

Self, who deny both its existence and its rewards, those sinful beings who

believe the demoniac principle that the physical body is all and who live to

satisfy their vital instincts alone, they could never be supposed to attain to

Me, the highest Lord, even in a dream. That is, they could not even attain to

mere devotion (bhakti), one of the subordinate phases of the path leading to Me.

Such persons certainly have to return. Where do they return? To further

transmigratory life associated with death, the part which includes experiences

in hell and in animal bodies.

(1) Shankara, Gita Bhasya IX.1-3

 

Those who worship Me thus with devotion (bhakti), with all desires for external

objects restrained, not desirous of any gain but filled with love--to them I

grant insight into my true nature, whereby they realize Me, the Lord, as their

own Self. Who are these people? Those whose minds and senses are focused on

Me.

.. . .

This 'lamp of wisdom' is filled with the clear oil of devotion (bhakti), is

fanned by the breeze of ardent longing for Me, has intelligence purified by

celibacy and other observances for its wick, has a dispassionate mind for its

base, is protected by the chimney of an imagination that is withdrawn from

sense-objects and unstained by attachment and aversion, and is shining with the

right-insight that arises from constant one-pointed meditation.

(2) Gita Bhasya X.10-11

 

Shankara associates term 'bhakti' with meditation.

(3) see Shankara, Brahma Sutras Bhasya III.ii.24

 

Shankara identifies bhakti with jnana.

(4) see Gita Bhasya XIII.10

 

Shankara calls bhakti-yoga a preliminary to liberation.

(5) see Gita Bhasya XIV.26

 

Shankara compares difficulty of jnana and bhakti.

(6) see Gita Bhasya XII.1-5

 

Shankara defines term 'devotee.'

(7) see Gita Bhasya XIII.18

 

Shankara's commentary deals with bhakti, but maxwell has no access to what he

says:

(8) Brhad. I.v.3

(9) Chand. Bh. VI.vii.1-2