II. Bhakti Yoga
A. Purpose:
1. Bhakti-Yoga is the path of love and devotion. Bakti- the path of devotion. This is for people of emotional nature. People reach this state by prayer and ritual.
a) Devotion to devine
b) Through love proximity
B. Comes from
1. Has its roots in the mystical ritualism of the ancient Vedas , Rig-Veda (3.59.2)
a) "Whosoever is in Your grace is neither slain nor conquered; and distress does not reach him either from afar or near"
b) The Vedic seers ( rishi ) invoked various deities during their sacrificial rites
2. Did not flourish as a clearly delineated path until Shvetâshvatara-Upanishad and Bhagavad-Gîtâ
a) the time of the Shvetâshvatara-Upanishad
(1) Later Upanishads 600 B.C.E
(a) Shvetashvatara-Upanishads (3.20b) stated: "free from grief one beholds, through the grace of the Creator, that as action-free (akratu) , as majestic, and as the Lord (isha).
b) Bhagavad-Gîtâ
(1) Described in and nucleus of Bhagavad-Gîtâ
(a) Devotion to the ultimate Being and grace form the nucleus of the Bhagavad.
(b) Krishna is quoted as saying (6.47): Of all yogins, he who loves Me with faith and whose inner self is absorbed in Me—him I deem to be most yoked.
(c) And (18.64): Be Me-minded, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, salute Me. Thus you will come to Me. I promise you truly, for you are dear to Me.
(2) presents Bhakti Yoga as a formal spiritual path
3. Included as part of Patanjali's Yoga-Sutra (1.23)
a) B.K.S Iyengar commentary states on (1.23): "Through surrender the aspirants ego is effaced, and the grace of the Lord pours down upon him like torrential rain"
4. This path flourished in the period from 800 to 1100 A.D
a) creation of the Bhakti-Sûtra of Shândilya and the Bhakti-Sûtra of Nârada
b) two aphoristic Sanskrit works codifying the devotional path
C. Philosophy:
1. Yoga of devotion
a) In Bhakti Yoga, the devotee establishes a near and dear relationship with the Lord
2. is essentially dualistic
a) The Ultimate Person is recognised as infinitely greater than even the most exalted Self-realized sage
D. Method
1. Constant self surrender, dedication ,worship and service to Higher Reality (God or representative spiritual teacher). It is merging or absorption in the Lord.
a) Traditionally, this has involved the use of external props and external relationships
b) The yogi on the devotional path literally participates in the Divine through surrender, devotion, service, worship, and finally is drawn into mystical union with the Divine
c) communion with Him and gets absorbed in Him eventually.
2. Singing, prayer (prarthana)
a)
(1) The Yogi adores the Lord..
(2) The Yogi speaks of His glories.
(3) The Yogi hears His Lilas.
(4) The Yogi prays and prostrates.
(5) The Yogi repeats His Name.
(6) The Yogi chants His Mantra.
(7) The Yogi sings His Name (Kirtana).
(8) The Yogi constantly remembers Him
(9) The Yogi does total, ungrudging, unconditional surrender, obtains His grace, holds
E. About
1. Bhakti signifies both devotion and loving attachment to the Divine
a) Way of heart
b) Positive regard for a higher principle
2. The beauty of Bhakti-Yoga is that it is so accessible to anyone, regardless of spiritual development, because the aspirant is free to establish a relationship with God in any form that he finds attractive.
a) Suit an emotional and loving natured person.
F. how to live this understanding in my life/practice/teaching
1. would not choose this path to take me towards the goal
a) Concepts/approach of Bhakti Yoga challenge me.
b) Find it difficult to be prepared to devote effort to understand properly
(1) No yogic path can be theoretical.
(2) By necessity, it must bring a practical approach, as all Yoga is a practical subject.
c) Bhakti-Yoga could become an escape from the rigors of the deep self-examination required for spiritual growth
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