The Ancient Teachings Of Bhakti Yoga

In this practice

Key teachings

• Bhakti as unconditional love and devotion
• Surrender to divine will
• Annihilation of separateness and union with the Supreme

Ideal for

• Spiritual seekers and philosophers
• Individuals interested in the devotional path of yoga
• Anyone exploring concepts of unconditional love and surrender

Lesson

Instructions

The Sanskrit word bhakti is derived from the root bhaj, which means "to revere," "to share," "to partake," and "to worship." Primarily meaning devotion, it encompasses a range of meanings, such as attachment to love, faith, and spiritual knowledge. Bhakti is both a process and the result of the union between the bhakt (the worshipper) and the Bhagwan (the worshipped). As a process, bhakti is complete subservience to the divine will, and as an outcome, it is an end in itself. The purpose of devotion is neither wish fulfillment nor any higher purpose such as liberation or salvation; it is a simple concept of unconditional love towards the object of devotion, which may be a theistic God, an impersonal god, a living being, or even a thought or emotion. This love knows no expectations, fears, or rivals. It expects nothing in return and is purely unconditional. The sole purpose of loving is to immerse oneself in an unending stream of divine love. Love does not emerge out of fear; one does not love in order to avoid hell, but rather in the face of love, concepts of heaven, hell, sin, karma, and liberation are all transcended. One becomes passive in their actions as there is complete surrender towards the beloved; all actions are guided by intense love. Love of Bhakti has no rival. A person who is truly in love will see the object of their love as the highest ideal. It may be that in many cases human love is misdirected and misplaced; however, to the person who loves, the thing they love is always their highest ideal.

The ancient treatise on Bhakti- the Narada Bhakti sutra explains the essence of Bhakti in its opening lines- It is of the nature of the highest love for this oneAnd of the nature of the immortal blissOn attaining which a man becomes perfect immortal and satisfied forever.On gaining which one wants nothing, laments over nothing, hates nothing, delights in nothing, and is never enthusiastic in anything earthly.Experiencing which one becomes exhilarated beyond self control, stands perfectly still, and revels in the self. [2-6]

The notion of love is central to the idea of Bhakti. This love is an emotional, intense, and passionate longing for the beloved, not limited to the realm of physical or sexual desire. It involves an intense contemplation such that the lover and beloved seem to become one. There is an annihilation of separateness - a dissolution of the distinction between "me" and "not-me." Unless the union is with the entirety of creation, the distinction will persist. Hence, in Bhakti, the beloved is the Supreme itself - the one who is both creator and creation. The identification of self with the Supreme occurs, leading to complete fulfillment, satisfaction, desirelessness, and eternal bliss.

Voiceover: Surjit Singh

Score: Epidemic music x Motion array x Original Score

Script: Ankit Kumar

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Steps

• Cultivating unconditional love for the divine
• Intense contemplation on the beloved/Supreme
• Surrendering one's actions to a higher purpose

Benefits

• Attainment of perfect, immortal, and satisfied state
• Transcendence of earthly desires, fears, and sorrows
• Experience of eternal bliss and fulfillment
• Dissolution of the distinction between self and the divine