bhakti and jyana

[Guest guest]

friends,

 

 

I have been reading a book by sri sadguru gnananda of tapovanam at

thirukovilur.in that he says,

" Rare indeed is human birth. Having attained it, one should know its

goal and reach it. Our ancient seers and sages have shown us the

path. They have revealed to us that realisation of the supreme one,

the father of the universe is the purushartha or the prime aim of

human life".

There are many paths for achieving it. First is bhakti, to stand

clinging to god. Next is the path of yoga of desireless action, which

leads to bhakti. Third comes gnana, culmination of the pursuit along

the path of desireless action and clinging to him-in being one with

him in bliss. each of them again follows three courses determined by

three gunas or modes of prakriti or nature.in bhakti,para bhakti or

higher bhakti is considered the noblest; in yoga, para yoga or higher

yoga is the best;untrammelled bliss in the

self is the great height of gana or knowledge. By bhakti is ment the

clinging to the Supreme one, giving up all attachments to the body,

life and worldly objects. To those who have climbed to the height of

Para Bhakti, the supreme reveals itself by itself and this phase is

known as Para yoga or higher yoga.

pranams.

 

cdr bvn

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "vaidyanathiyer"

<vaidyanathiyer> wrote:

 

.. By bhakti is meant the

> clinging to the Supreme one, giving up all attachments to the body,

> life and worldly objects.

 

Namaste,

 

adR^iShTe darshanotkaNThA dR^iShTe vishleSha bhIrutA .

nAdR^iShTena na dR^iSTena bhavatA labhyate sukham.h ..

 

[bhakti Martanda]

 

"Bhakti is that form of Love in which when the lovers are together

they are afraid of being separated; and when they are not together

they have a painful longing for union."

 

[quoted in S. Radhakrishnan

Introduction-Principal Upanishads

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

[Guest guest]

Sunder Hattangadi <sunderh wrote:

"Bhakti is that form of Love in which when the lovers are together they are

afraid of being separated; and when they are not together

they have a painful longing for union."

[quoted in S. Radhakrishnan

Introduction-Principal Upanishads]

 

Dear divine souls, I am Pardha Saradhi, a new member to this group (Age - 21,

working in France). Being a spiritual aspirant, I feel blessed to be among the

elders. I was fortunate enough to listen to the valuable ideas of all of you

from the past 10 days. I just had a small doubt regarding the above statement.

Hope you would clarify: Considering Bhakti as love between the devotee and the

Paramatma, where from the grief of separation arise?

Since, Paramatma is formless, all-pervading and eternal, a devotee can never be

separated from God.

Here contemplating God itself means being in the company of God. Isn't it so?

Being ever in the contemplation of God irespective of outward happenings, the

Bhakta should be immersed in bliss never being afflicted by any pain or grief.

So, how can there be any disappointment or separation in true Bhakti ? Many

Thanks for clarifying,

Regards,

 

Pardha Saradhi

 

Note from the List Moderators:

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[Guest guest]

Dear ParthasArathi,

>Hope you would clarify: Considering Bhakti as love between the devotee and >the

Paramatma, where from the grief of separation arise?

 

Love comes in three forms.

The "love" for those "below" you is called "vAtsalya". Ex: Your children

The "love" for those "equal with" you is "preeti" Ex: Your wife / husband

The "love" for those "superior to" you is called "bhakti" Ex: Your Teachers

 

Thus, the more one knows about the "superiority" of the other person,

the more genuine "bhakti" or reverence he will have towards that person.

Thus "bhakti" is inclusive of "jnAna" always. Any other type of bhakti is

termed as "mooDa bhakti" or bhakti coming from blind faith.

 

The "bhakti" or love that evolves between the devotee and paramAtman, evolves

as the devotee's knowledge of paramAtman evolves. The starting point for

this kind of bhakti could be from anywhere : blind-faith, curiosity about God,

fear of God, helplessness, greed, and so on. The "grief of seperation" arises

when one has bhakti of this kind.

 

The first thing that shAstra teaches is that you "exist and operate" because

of paramAtman that is indwelling in you. So, where is the question of

seperation?

 

I hope your question got answered.