This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book
Title - Sadhak and Sathi
Author - Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji)
CHAPTER - 19
PATH OF DEVOTION
(Bhakti Margni Aradhana)
BACKGROUND
The general aim of any aspirant (Sadhaka) would be to raise his
self (Atma) up to the status of self realization, through
self improvement. There are three paths laid down to attain to
this aim. These are the paths of: (1) Knowledge (Jnan), (2)
Devotion (Bhakti), and (3) Activity (Yoga).
Looking from the absolute point of view, all the three paths are
just one. Yet the great saints had defined the different paths
of spiritual progress because the aspirants have unique
personalities. This unique personality may be due to the
individual's circumstances, family background, varied psychic
effects of previous lives, present education and so on.
GENERAL NATURE OF DEVOTION
Devotion or Bhakti may be defined as the experience of
admiration, respect and eulogy that arises in our mind towards
personalities more virtuous than us on recognizing their human
and super-human virtues. In view of one's attraction toward the
virtues of the virtuous, one must come to honor and welcome
them, be humble and respectful towards them, serve and worship
them, admire of their glory and virtues and so on. This would,
in due order, lead to purification of one's own feelings. This
is the basis of the methodology to be followed in the true
development of the path of devotion.
The devotion found in common people is not the true devotion of
the sage. Common people resort only to conventional external
modes of worship of their family priest and family God. This is
only a family custom or conventional conduct. Development of
real devotion is not possible where the aspirant (Sadhaka) does
not know the real nature of the trio: the devotee, the
devotion, and God. An enlightened Sadhaka should therefore
resort to devotion born out of appropriate and true conviction.
SPECIALIZED NATURE OF DEVOTION
One who intends to resort to Bhakti (devotion) is a Bhakta - the
devotee or Sadhaka or Atma himself. Such a devotee should get
himself thoroughly acquainted with the virtues of the
preceptor-saint, and of God the Supreme, towards whom he is
devoted.
An aspirant should experience and express devotion towards a
preceptor or Guru who is calm and composed, detached, benevolent
in nature and one endowed with purity of knowledge and good
character. In a similar manner, towards God, the Supreme, who
is detached, and whose virtues of endless knowledge and infinite
bliss are fully revealed. Our own faults and weaknesses are
calmed down by devotion to God the Supreme, and the enlightened
preceptor. Our entire being gets filled with peace and purity
on such occasions.
Now, the devotee, who is thoroughly acquainted with the virtues
of this God and preceptor, practices to adopt their virtues
slowly and steadily in his day-to-day life, and thereby inspires
himself in the path of self-betterment and self realization.
Thus real devotion (Bhakti) is a scientific process of
revelation of virtues in one's life, having been delighted by
their manifestation in one's God or preceptor. Let us now see
in what different types of devotion, the devotee engages himself
and thus develops the path of Bhakti.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVOTION:
Spiritual seers and poets have described nine types of Bhakti as
under:
1. Attentive Hearing of devotional songs and sermons (Sharvana)
2. Singing of Devotional Songs (Kirtana)
3. Thinking of God, Guru, Religion and Self or Ataman (Chintana)
4. Salutation to God, Guru and Religion (Vandana)
5. Service to God, Guru and Religion (Sevana)
6. Meditation (Dhyana)
7. Humility (Laghuta)
8. Equanimity (Samata)
9. Unity (Ektva)
The above mentioned nine types of devotion are well known, and
the devotee attains to these by truly practicing to the meaning
indicated by the names. Here, it would be enough to state that
as the devotee develops the right (Sattva) quality within and
develops it truly, the inferior (Tamasika) and worldly (Rajasika)
inclinations dwindle in his life, love of God grows deeper.
He sees and observes the supreme Godhood in all living beings,
and may often experience the outward ecstasy, tears of joy, to
dance in devotion, mindless towards his own physical body. This
ultimately leads to the oneness of devotee, devotion and God.
It also further leads to the higher devotion known as Para-
Bhakti and to the highest unequalled devotion known as Ananya -
Bhakti.
For such continuous spiritual progress, steady, systematic,
well-implemented and uninterrupted devotional practice, intense
love for God, non-attachment to worldly objects, and frequent
association with the saints are essential and should be
regularly pursued by the devotee. This fact is observed
immediately when we review and study the lives of great
devotees.
REWARD OF GENUINE DEVOTION
One who succeeds in the real path of devotion, attains to the
super-human state. He loses all attraction to the things of
this world and also of the other worlds. He remains satisfied
with his constant devotion to God. No matter what circumstances
befall, he considers all of them to be alright and remains
equanimous.
As he has attained to the higher states of devotion in this
manner, his love for God and the spiritual progress thereof,
flow unceasingly like the water of river Ganges. Such an
enlightened and equanimous devotee remains in a blissful state,
continues in the rest of his life the mission of being helpful
to one and all, inspiring others also to follow the same path
and to taste the divine bliss thereof.
GLORY OF THE PATH OF DEVOTION
1. Advance yourself in the devotion of God the Supreme. The
wise have praised the pondering on the virtues of God the
Supreme with a pure heart, hearing sermons on God, singing
his praise and his worship. The devotee should therefore try
to adopt all these practices in his life.
2. In this universe, true devotion, an enlightened preceptor,
association with the saints and the noble, study of authentic
scriptures, and equanimity of vision and true activity
(Yoga); all these together have never been attained by us so
far, otherwise our present state would not have befallen us.
However, let us accept respectfully the proverb, "Better late
than never," and work diligently. This will bring us
triumphant victory and we shall succeed after all the
previous failures of countless births.
3. True devotion is not possible by an individual who is
lustful, short-tempered or covetous. Only a heroic person,
who does not fear to the fears of the world can possibly
become in tune with God the Supreme.
4. The devotee who is pious, alert, impartial, free from worries
and one who has renounced all mundane desires, is the lone
favorite to God.
5. After careful and wide-ranging thought, we strongly believe
that devotion is the best path for spiritual uplift. If the
devotion is laid at the feet of great enlightened saints it
can lead to liberation
6. Devotion is a desire-yielding tree (Kalpa-taru), a
desire-fulfilling cow (Kama-dhenu) that yields the desired
reward. The poet Pritam says that one who resorts to this
path, experiences no pain and sorrow whatsoever.
Services to other living beings, prayer to God, and
meditation are all only superfluous if divine love is not
blended with them. The poet says that knowledge without
devotion has no significance in spiritual life. He
further adds that just as the lover is with his beloved,
miser is with his wealth, so a real devotee is with
God the Supreme by remembering name all the time.
With complete affection to God leads one to heroism, the Soul
(Atma), ascends progressively to his true state of pure bliss
by pondering over its pure virtues. Just as the mirror in
hand makes one conscious of one's face, the contemplation and
meditation on God or Siddha or Jineshvara makes one conscious
of one's true original form.
LIVING EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS IN THE PATH OF DEVOTION:
(1)
Saint Tukaram was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, who lived
in the state of Maharashtra, India, in the seventeenth century.
He was endowed with the spirit of devotion right from childhood.
He gave the name "Vitthal" to Lord Krishna. Every day, his
devotion led him on the path of progress towards the Divine. He
was famous for his devotional songs which flowed automatically
during his intense devotional chanting. These devotional songs
became popular and recognized as "Abhanga".
When he eulogized God in devotional songs, he got completely
engrossed and lost in devotion; and great words of preaching
came from the innermost depths of his heart.
Rameshvara Bhatt, a renowned scholar of the Vedas and a famous
sage heard of Saint Tukaram and his devotional songs "Abhanga".
He called him and told him not to compose "Abhanga" (songs),
because they did not truly convey the message of Vedas. He
also asked him to throw away the "Abhangas" that he had composed
in the Indrayani river.
Since Rameshvara Bhatt was a scholar and a famous sage, Tukaram
followed his instruction but his life turned miserable
without his devotional songs to God. He decided to sit
in a temple with determination to see God personally
or bring an end to his life.
Seated on a firm seat in the temple, he became merged in
devotion to God. Thirteen days and night passed without food
and sleep. Finally God appeared and he had "darshana" of God in
the temple of his heart. This led him to experience supreme
peace and delight.
(2)
Jagannathapuri is one of the four holy pilgrimages of Hindus.
It is situated in Orrisa, about 500 kilometers from Calcutta.
Every twelve years a great religious ceremony is performed and
millions of devotees gather to celebrate the function. The
chief idol is of Lord (Bhagavan) Jagannath, one form of Lord
Krishna.
It was the second day of the Hindu month "Ashadha." In the
state of Orissa, in the city Jagannathpuri, the procession of
Lord Jagannatha was in progress. Faithful devotees in large
numbers get together. All were anxious to have a view
("darshan") of the idol of Lord Jagannatha seated in the
chariot.
A great saint Shree Chaitanya Maha Prabhu arrived to have a
darshan of Lord Jagannatha in the procession. His devotees had
reserved a standing place from which he could easily see the
idol of Lord Jagannath (darshan). However, it became difficult
for him to have a clear darshan because in this huge crowd, an
old woman climbed on his shoulders for the darshan of Lord
Jagannatha.
Some devotees saw this and became angry. They started scolding
the old woman. However Shree Chaitanya stopped them and said,
"Well brothers, this old lady is a real devotee. She was not
aware of the fact that she had climbed upon my shoulders. Her
desire for darshan was very intense. We will attain to devotion
per excellence only when such an acute desire will overtake us
and we will forget the consciousness of the body. Then and only
then will our lives become blissful."
(3)
It was the medieval age of the saints and devotees. The
tradition of their lives was to bathe in the river Ganges of
divine love and become pious and inspire the common people to
follow this path and live a godly life in which there is a peace
of Self and a total absence of worries.
A noble and respected saint was staying in a small, modest and
simple house, about five miles away from the city Jaipur in the
state of Rajasthan. He had made his life an ideal one by
devotion to God, respect to others, plain living, and high
thinking. Many aspirants visited this simple house for the
darshan of this saint. They derived inspiration from his sermon
which was rich in experience.
Once a disciple told him, "Well Sir, the queen of Jaipur has
arrived to see you. How shall we welcome her?"
He replied simply, "Let her come. She comes here as a devotee.
No special welcome is required."
The disciple brought the queen into the presence of the saint.
The queen bowed to the saint and seated on a seat befitting her
status. The saint delivered a short sermon. She was delighted
and later asked the permission to leave after presenting many
golden ornaments as a gift to the saint. The saint protested
much but the queen said, "We cannot take back the things that we
have given." and left.
On the very next day the saint invited the poor and the
suffering from the adjoining villages and gave away all the
ornaments in charity. The disciples said, "Noble Sir, if you had
retained some, we could have used the same for a better welcome
for the future guests."
The saint expressed to his unflinching devotion to God through
these words, "The almighty who gives to us, will give to the
guests also."
This is the noble life of a saint. It was this saint Nabhaji
who wrote the famous work "Bhaktamala" (Devotional Songs).
|
|
Disclaimer: The file contained in the
box above or displayed in a separate window from a link in the
box above is NOT owned nor implied to
be owned by BeYoND THe iLLuSioN. Most files at BeYoND THe
iLLuSioN are originally from public Bulletin Board Systems
(BBS) which were popular in the days before the Internet or
from gopher, web, and FTP sites from the early days of the
Internet which no longer exist today. Essentially, all files
were acquired from the public domain in one for or another.
However, there have been occasions when copyright protected
material has appeared on BeYoND THe iLLuSIoN without permission
of the copyright holder. In these instances, we have and will
continue to remove the copyright protected file as soon as it
is brought to our attention. This can now be done using our Report Copyright Material form. Fill
out the form, and the webmaster will be notified of the
situation.
There are also times when files found on BeYoND THe iLLuSioN
have a real home somewhere else on the Internet. In these
instances, we will gladly replace the file with a link to its
true home whenever it is brought to our attention. If you know
of the true home of any of these files, you can use our Report Original URL form to bring it yo our
attention.
|
