Bhakthi and Jnana

[Guest guest]

Dear satsanghis,

 

Reading the very interesting posts on Bhakthi and Jnana, reminded me of the

simple yet profound introductory message of Shree Rajaji on MS Subbulakshmi's CD

on the Bhaja Govindam song.

 

Talk by Rajaji :

Adhi Shankaracharya wrote a number of vedantic works for imparting knowledge

of the self and the universal spirit. He also composed a number of hymns to

foster Bhakthi in the hearts of men. One of these hymns is the famous Bhaja

govindaM. The way of devotion, is not different from the way of knowledge or

gnyana. When intelligence matures and lodges securely in the mind, it becomes

wisdom. When wisdom is integrated with life and issues out in action, it becomes

bhakthi. Knowledge, when it becomes fully mature is bhakthi. If it does not get

transformed into bhakthi, such knowledge is useless tinsel. To believe that

gnyana and bhakthi, knowledge and devotion are different from each other, is

ignorance. If Sri Adi Shankara himself who drank the ocean of gnyana as easily

as one sip water from the palm of one's hand, sang in his later years, hymns to

develop devotion, it is enough to show that gnyana and bhakthi are one and the

same. Sri Shankara has packed into the Bhaja govindaM song:

the substance of all vedanta, and set the oneness of gnyana and bhakthi to

melodious music.

 

 

In Bhagawan

Mangesh