Re: What do you think what is bhakti (Devotion) ?
Namaste Jaswant,
There is most definitely a personal element involved in bhakti - no, which is crucial in order for it to flourish. Some may see this, as you have mentioned, in a reverent light, where the Lord is to be worshipped, appeased and shown the greatest respect. This is certainly true of most Abrahamic religions, where God is seen as a king figure, to be adored and before whom one must bow low.
In Sanatana Dharma, the devotee is given greater reign to express his relationship with God. Here, God can be a fatherly, kingly figure as He is seen in the West, or He can be a Mother, approached with the tender, innocent love of a child for his parent who nourishes and provides for him. Or God can be a guiding friend and guru, where the devotee feels great love, loyalty and gratitude for being shown the way to Truth. God can even be a lover, and I certainly think the idea of falling in love with God is a good analogy for the growing power of one's bhakti: beautiful, blissful, full of a joy that feels everlasting. How many are the relationships a devotee can have with God!
Why God didn’t allow me Bhakti?
God does not prevent you from loving Him! No one is excluded from bhakti. There are only those who are deluded into thinking they are excluded by their own actions. Try to see it as a child who has been playing by himself and who has slowly wandered away from his father/mother. The child may become so engrossed in his play that he forgets momentarily about his parents. He may look around in a moment of confusion and think "my parents have abandoned me!" but if you were to stop and take a closer look around, you would see that this is not so. They are just waiting for you to finish playing in the sandbox. When you're ready to leave, they will take you back into their loving arms. As Amith said before, there are no qualifications for loving God. Just open your heart to Him and love Him with all your being and He will, without fail, come to you (B.G. 18:65):
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māḿ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaḿ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me
"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage to Me. Thus you will come to me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend."
Om namah Shivaya
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye namah
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu
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