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India is a country that is built upon the principles of Bhakti, a devotional practice in Hinduism that emphasizes love and devotion towards a personal god. Each individual, regardless of their religious affiliation, possesses an innate love and devotion towards their personal deity. There is no text provided. However, upon entering one of their magical bookstores, you would find that the walls are overflowing with texts on a wide range of spiritual practices and teachings, but there is hardly anything on Bhakti Yoga. Why is this happening? The path of Bhakti Yoga cannot be entered through the mind; in fact, it is not easily understood. How does one begin to explain love? Your words will always fall short.
Bhakti, a devotional practice in Hinduism that emphasizes love and devotion towards a personal god.
Most Bhaktas end up becoming poets, mystics, artists, or musicians. These tools still do not fully capture the essence of love, but they are far more effective than a dry, theoretical textbook.
There is a wonderful saying that goes, "Do you want to taste the honey or do you want to be the honey?". Honey is often associated with divinity, and it's no wonder why we want to be the honey! I would go even further and say that our Bhakti Yoga practice, when taken to a deep level, can help us become the honey itself. This way, we get to experience both being and tasting the honey!
"Do you want to taste the honey or do you want to be the honey?".
Some people claim that Bhakti Yoga is best suited for spiritual practitioners who possess a sensitive and creative nature. Some argue that Bhakti is meant for individuals who struggle to break free from their own thoughts and embrace spontaneity in life. Bhakti Yoga is for everyone.
The practitioner who spends excessive time reading and analyzing spiritual texts can experience a sense of lightness in their heart by practicing Bhakti Yoga. However, some practitioners who strictly engage in Bhakti Yoga may become fanatical, overly emotional, or lose themselves
in transcendental states.
There is a wonderful story of an Indian Saint named Ramakrishna who was a Bhakta by nature. Ramakrishna was absolutely devoted to his Ishta-Devata Kali. Wherever he went, he saw Kali and felt that she was the only thing that mattered in the world.
Wherever he went, he saw Kali and felt that she was the only thing that mattered in the world.
One day, another holy man came along and recognized Ramakrishna as a highly elevated being. However, he also noticed that Ramakrishna's devotion to the image of Kali had the potential to hinder his progress toward ultimate realization. This holy man guided Ramakrishna to realize that his fixation on the specific form of Kali was hindering him from realizing his True Beloved.
Through the blessings of both Kali and the holy man, Ramakrishna was able to cut through the image of Kali with his sword of discernment. In this moment, he completely dissolved into the Divine and came to realize that what he truly loved the most was formless, yet present in all things.
Ultimately, it is about opening our hearts to deeply recognize the divinity in all things.
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