love?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

>> 2. As a man cannot satisfy his hunger by simple knowledge or sight of

>> food, so a man cannot be satisfied by the knowledge or even the

>> perception of God until love comes; therefore love is the highest.

>

> How does this love come?!!!!

 

The answer is in the sutra itself.

 

How do we satisfy our hunger ?

 

1. We first know about food. We know that food will satisfy hunger.

 

2. We come in touch with food. We touch, see, hear, smell and taste food.

 

3. We eat food and digest it.

 

Mere knowing and seeing or even tasting food will not satisfy our

hunger. We need to swallow and digest the food.

 

Similarly, how will man be satisfied ?

 

1. We first hear about God. We read about God. We read that the aim of

life is to realize God. We read that only realizing God can give us

permanent freedom from sorrow, etc.

 

2. We get a first hand glimpse of God. We see God directly.

 

3. We get intimate with God. We talk to Him. We play with Him. We

surrender ourselves completely to Him. We love Him.

 

Mere knowing about God, or seeing God will not give us liberation.

We need to love God.

 

These three steps are described very well in Advaita Bodha Deepika.

 

1. Sravana is the first step. It leads to an indirect knowledge of

Brahman (or God).

 

2. Manana is the second step. It results in a direct knowledge of

Brahman. The aspirant has experienced Brahman or seen God. But this

is not the end. Vasanas (tendencies) are still there.

 

3. Nididhyasana is the third step. It is repeated dwelling in the

vision of God. This will eventually lead to Manonasha and

Vasanakshaya. It is only then that Jivan Mukti is attained.

 

These days, there are a lot of self-proclaimed gurus, especially

Advaitins who have reached only the second stage, but think that

they have attained Jivan Mukti and conduct Satsanghs. Unless

Manonasha and Vasanakshaya have happened, one has not reached the

goal of Jivan Mukti. When a person has attained Jivan Mukti, then

alone will he experience true and full Love for God. Sorry for

the digression. This is a very important pitfall in the path to

Jivan Mukti. So I had to touch upon it.

 

So the answer to your question is Sravana and Manana. Read about

God. Hear about God. Think about God. Sing about God. Keep the

company of His devotees. Serve His saints. When we have had a

direct perception of God, we need to move to Nididhyasana to

be permanently established in God consiousness, which is Jivan

Mukti.

 

With regards,

Gomu.

 

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