Vivekananda Mailing List-11/5/03

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Para-Bhakti or Supreme Devotion

 

CHAPTER I

 

 

THE PREPARATORY RENUNCIATION

 

 

We have now finished the consideration of what may be called the

preparatory Bhakti, and are entering on the study of the Parâ-Bhakti or

supreme devotion. We have to speak of a preparation to the practice of

this Para-Bhakti. All such preparations are intended only for the

purification of the soul. The repetition of names, the rituals, the

forms, and the symbols, all these various things are for the

purification of the soul. The greatest purifier among all such things,

a purifier without which no one can enter the regions of this higher

devotion (Para-Bhakti), is renunciation. This frightens many; yet,

without it, there cannot be any spiritual growth. In all our Yogas this

renunciation is necessary. This is the stepping-stone and the real

centre and the real heart of all spiritual culture — renunciation. This

is religion — renunciation.

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Today we continue Swami Vivekananda's book Bhakti-Yoga found in Volume

3 of the Complete works.

 

This is a part of a daily study of the lectures and writings of Swami

Vivekananda. All lectures are sent out in sequenced form, as he spoke

them.

 

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