What is Bhakti?

[Guest guest]

The Sanskrit word Bhakti needs careful explanation because there is no

equivalent English word to represent its meaning completely. Bhakti is the

practice of giving without asking and is also self surrender for the purpose of

eventually identifying with the source of love or the higher SELF. Every action

with Bhakti is done to serve the beloved one. Shankara defines Bhakti as the

contemplative living in one's natural state-stateless state- the divine state.

In the divine state we can view every other being in the world with equanimity.

Every being in the world will become the mirror reflection of the SELF - ‘the me

in you will see the you in me.' The devotee frees the mind from pretensions and

possession and experiences the Bliss.

 

This divine state can't be attained through studies or scholarship and is a

state enjoyable only internally without an iota of external influence! It is

the divine perception of equanimity that sprouts forth with the Divine Grace.

With true Bhakti, the Bhakta can see the godliness of infinite love through the

total surrender of ego. Bhakti is the recognition that we only possess ‘ego'

and necessity for its surrender permanently. The Ego consists of two illusions -

the first, ownership to wealth and knowledge and second , ownership of control

over other beings. The human intellect can recognize the fact that "We came

with no possessions and will leave without any possession.' It seems that we

want to maintain ignorance with illusionary behavior!

 

By surrendering the ego, the Bhakta gives up the illusory behavior and retains

the True Human Nature with the Divine qualities. The Bhakta and the universe

become internal and external perceptions disappears with the experience of

Bliss!

[Guest guest]

Thanks and you are right. Actually any illusion is also an illusion!

[Guest guest]

>"Ram Chandran" <chandran

>

>(snip) The Ego consists of two illusions - the first, ownership to wealth

and knowledge and second , >ownership of control over other beings.

 

This seems like just one illusion to me - or two things that are both due to

the same basic illusion.

(I know, this is nit-picking!)

 

W

[Guest guest]

>"Ram Chandran" <chandran

>

>Thanks and you are right. Actually any illusion is also an illusion!

 

 

Yes, that's a very important point that is often not understood. Zen

master Huang-Po put it this way: "The arising of illusion and the

elimination of illusion are both illusory."

 

W

[Guest guest]

List,

If life is an illusion that our minds make up, then why don't we perceive

ourselves having wings to lift us to where we want to go, or destruction that

kills millions. Why don't we see ourselves as pretty with blond/brown/black

hair or blue/green/brown eyes? If it is all an illusion, when is/was the

factors of these illusions we call our lives decided? I hope this didn't

sound childish.

With respect,

Anthony