What do you think what is bhakti (Devotion) ?

[jasdir]

Away from all rites and ritules, or bookish knowledge, or the knowledge that you have gained from others, or your parents, or your religion etc... anywhere,

Honestly, Only just using your Heart,

What do you think what is bhakti (Devotion) ?

_/\_Jasdir.

[TheOne]

True Bhakti is surrender to God BUT I disagree with you when you said "away from all rites and rituals, bookish knowledge, etc. etc."


The knowledge you gain FROM these books, parents, and rituals increases your bhakti 100x.

[jasdir]

True Bhakti is surrender to God BUT I disagree with you when you said "away from all rites and rituals, bookish knowledge, etc. etc."


The knowledge you gain FROM these books, parents, and rituals increases your bhakti 100x.

Yes they do, am agreed.
But i want to know what a lonely heart says.

_/\_ Jasdir.

[amith vikram]

it is the love towards god. and one more imp thing that i believe, loving the lord is possible only through god's grace.

[jaswant]

it is the love towards god. and one more imp thing that i believe, loving the lord is possible only through god's grace.

Namaste !

"loving the lord is possible only through god's grace"---- am i getting this right ?.... if the Lord does not want me to love him - i cannot love him ?-- what about my minute independece... i want to love him even if he does not want me to love him ... can he stop me ?

.... this sound terrible -- but i hope u understand what i am trying to say

.....

j

[jasdir]

Namaste !

"loving the lord is possible only through god's grace"---- am i getting this right ?.... if the Lord does not want me to love him - i cannot love him ?-- what about my minute independece... i want to love him even if he does not want me to love him ... can he stop me ?

.... this sound terrible -- but i hope u understand what i am trying to say

.....

j

I have also heard, " Pyaar kiya nahin jata ho jata hai "

English: " Love is not the thing to do, it just appears "

_/\_Jasdir

[amith vikram]

Namaste !

"loving the lord is possible only through god's grace"---- am i getting this right ?.... if the Lord does not want me to love him - i cannot love him ?-- what about my minute independece... i want to love him even if he does not want me to love him ... can he stop me ?

.... this sound terrible -- but i hope u understand what i am trying to say

.....

j

Namaste,
The thing what i was trying to say was, an opportunity to read the leelas and the heart to feel it was blessed by the lord. I can't claim that i am a bhakta, but i feel he has given me such a privilege that i can revel in his thoughts.
Let me quote an instance here: In the Bhagavad Geeta, Vishvaroopa darshana chapter, bhagavan says- look arjuna these enemies are already killed by me. Weather you fight or not, they will die for sure. You are only a nimitta. So fight!
And also he says-the person who is blinded by ignorance claims that he has done this he has done that.

So it is wise to admit that it is only by the grace of god that we are able to enjoy his company.

[amith vikram]

I have also heard, " Pyaar kiya nahin jata ho jata hai "

English: " Love is not the thing to do, it just appears "

_/\_Jasdir

That i think, is god's will. What do you think?

[sunyata07]

Namaste,

I have always thought I understood the exact meaning of bhakti, but I have realised that over time, my understanding of it has changed slowly, almost imperceptibly. I cannot tell you exactly what I had once thought of it, but my current stance on it is somewhat different to what it once was. I thought once it was merely love for God, but I see now that bhakti is much more than that. In its simplest form it is, as the other members have pointed out, complete and total surrender to God. And I absolutely do agree that knowledge of His names, forms, ritual worship can aid in cultivating the right frame of mind for bhakti yoga. They say that of all the yoga paths, bhakti yoga is the simplest because it is readily accessible to all peoples, whatever their karmic state, whatever their station, gender, etc.

I have also heard, " Pyaar kiya nahin jata ho jata hai "

English: " Love is not the thing to do, it just appears "

_/\_Jasdir

I agree with this. True love, which is the basis of our true nature, is something that arises within each of us naturally. One cannot "concentrate" on giving love, it is the effortless effort, unconditional, infinite and without limit. The only potential threat to this pure, divine love is the ego, which places itself above all else. This needs to be eroded in order to feel the full impact of bhakti for God.

That i think, is god's will. What do you think?

Agreed, but then again, isn't everything God's will? Does this mean then, that true bhakti actually arises from God, rather than the devotee?

Om namah Shivaya

[amith vikram]

Namaste,


. The only potential threat to this pure, divine love is the ego, which places itself above all else. This needs to be eroded in order to feel the full impact of bhakti for God.



Om namah Shivaya

Namaste,
you have answered your own question. Yes, i agree one would normally think that, he or she chose to be a bhakta and continued the bhakti. But in the long run however, one would realize that it was because of the lord's compassion that we were able to connect with him. The thing what i want to say here is, if you look back at your life and assess everything that you have done, not even a single time can u claim-i achieved this; It was only a chance,it all just happened.