Vivekananda Mailing List-8/01/03

[Guest guest]

In commenting on the Sutra of Patanjali, Ishvara pranidhânâdvâ, i.e.

" Or by the worship of the Supreme Lord " — Bhoja says, " Pranidhâna is

that sort of Bhakti in which, without seeking results, such as

sense-enjoyments etc., all works are dedicated to that Teacher of

teachers. " Bhagavan Vyâsa also, when commenting on the same, defines

Pranidhana as " the form of Bhakti by which the mercy of the Supreme

Lord comes to the Yogi, and blesses him by granting him his desires " .

According to Shândilya, " Bhakti is intense love to God. "

[Guest guest]

Is Bhakti the means to God or is it the goal? How can we intensely love someone whom we don't know? How can we constantly remember something that we never experienced? I understand that there are two types of Bhakti - vaidi Bhakti (ritualistic devotion) and raaga bhakti (the "real" attraction to God). I think all these definitions by the great sages pertain to raaga bhakti rather than to vaidi bhakti. Raaga bhakti is the result of vaidi bhakti, which is rather mechanical and dry.

Ananta <sarada wrote:

In commenting on the Sutra of Patanjali, Ishvara pranidhânâdvâ, i.e. "Or by the worship of the Supreme Lord" — Bhoja says, "Pranidhâna is that sort of Bhakti in which, without seeking results, such as sense-enjoyments etc., all works are dedicated to that Teacher of teachers." Bhagavan Vyâsa also, when commenting on the same, defines Pranidhana as "the form of Bhakti by which the mercy of the Supreme Lord comes to the Yogi, and blesses him by granting him his desires". According to Shândilya, "Bhakti is intense love to God."