On Bhakthi

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Glad to see the erudition of the members in the subject matters. I am

a beginner to spiritual education and been looking into the Bhagavad

Gita. The questions I have could appear rudimentary or trite, in which

case I'd appreciate some pointers to refer.

 

I wanted some clarifications on the term Bhakthi. I understand that

there are the fours yogas viz; Karma Yoga, Gyana yoga, Dyana yoga and

Bhakthi yoga. And the definition of yoga, I take it as per verse 2.48

BG. My questions are as below:

1. When there is a mention of "Yoga" in Gita, does it refer to Bhakthi

Yoga?

2. Does Bhakthi Yoga encompass the other three yogas?

3. What is the difference between Bhakthi and Bhakthi yoga, if any?

4. Is it possible to attain/pursue Bhakthi Yoga without the other

three?

5. Is Bhakthi Yoga considered superior to the other forms of yoga?

6. Does it at all matter what yoga you choose to perfect?

 

Regards

Narayanan

[Guest guest]

BG teaches only one path to liberation viz. knowledge. However to gain that

knowledge, mind is required to be prepared through a life-style of yoga.

Bhagwan teaches two such life-styles i.e. of a karmi-- karma yoga; and of a

sannyaasi-- jnana yoga. Note that both these life-styles are just for

preparing the mind for knowledge. They do not liberate in and through

themselves. Ultimately it is knowledge that liberates-- be it for a karmi or

a sannyasi.

 

This was the cause of initial confusion of Arjuna. Since Bhagwaan praised

jnana as the liberator, Arjuna jumped to the conclusion that it is better to

be a sannyasi. In the later verses Bhagwan elaborates that either life-style

is good for preparation of mind, however sannyasa is difficult for someone

who is not yet ready for it.

 

Bhagwan does not describe Bhakthi and Dhyana as independent yogas. This

confusion might arise due to naming of specific chapters as Bhakthi Yoga and

Dhyana yoga, but then every chapter in BG is named as yoga and there are

certainly not 18 type of yogas! Bhakthi and Dhyana are supposed to be

practiced by a karmi as well as a sannyasi. What does a Bhakthi Yogi

supposed to do? Does he engage in Bhakthi all the time excluding everything

else-- no other duties or responsibilities? Then he is actually a sannyasi.

Or he takes care of his worldly duties while simultaneously recognizing the

play of lord in all his actions? Then he is a karma yogi. There is no

separate Bhakthi Yogi or Dhyana Yogi.

 

Narada Bhakthi Sutra defines Bhakthi as "parama prema swaroopa" i.e. of the

nature of absolute love. In love you establish partial identity with the

object of love. You start seeing your wife, your children, your hose, your

nation as part of "I". In case of absolute love, this identity is absolute

i.e. I and Lord are one and the same. There is absolutely no difference

between I and God. This realization is same as knowledge of advaita.

 

It does matter which yoga or life-style you chose for pursuing this

knowledge. The life-style of sannyasa or jnana yoga is the royal path if you

are ready for it. Otherwise as Bhagwan has pointed out at several places

that it could be a life of frustrations and suppressed desires if you have

not matured to that stage. The other alternative is the life-style of Karma

Yoga, where you follow your worldly duties in the spirit of bhagvad-arpana

buddhi and prasada-buddhi to prepare your mind for the knowledge of

advaita.

 

Just my 2 cents.

Regards,

 

 

 

 

 

----Original Message Follows----

"Narayanan Veeraraghavan" <nuv104>

advaitin

advaitin

On Bhakthi

Sun, 12 Dec 2004 05:38:22 -0000

 

 

 

 

I wanted some clarifications on the term Bhakthi. I understand that

there are the fours yogas viz; Karma Yoga, Gyana yoga, Dyana yoga and

Bhakthi yoga. And the definition of yoga, I take it as per verse 2.48

BG.