Sutra 58. Anyasmaat saulabhyam bhaktau.
[The
practice of devotion is easier than other methods (in the attainment of
salvation].
Bhaktau:
in devotion, with respect to divine love
Anyasmaat: than others, than any other
Saulabhyam: easy recognizability, the nature of
being easily obtained.
Bhakti is
easier than any other way of approach to God.
Karma,
Yoga, Jnana are the three other paths. Bhakti is the direct approach to the
ideal through the heart. Love is natural to everybody.
The
practice of devotion is the easiest of all forms of spiritual practice.
Karma,
Yoga, Jnana are the three other paths. It is only a help to knowledge and
devotion. It purifies the heart of the aspirants. Vedic rites can be performed
only by wealthy people.
In the
path of action, it is most important to get rid of Ego and avoid the sense of
doer-ship. Also, it has to have the backdrop of devotion where one has to
surrender his actions and fruits of his actions to God. This is easier said
than done.
RAJA YOGA
Yoga is
beset with difficulties and dangers. The Yogi gets powers and misuses and gets
downfall. It is very difficult to practice Pratyahara, Pranayama, etc.
The
pursuit of knowledge is dry for some, while that of devotion is sweet and
enjoyable. Jnana Yoga demands vast study, sharp and subtle intellect, bold
understanding and gigantic will.
Also, even
when one enters this path, one has to acquire 4 qualifications - Viveka (discrimination), Vairagya (Dispassion), Shad-sampath (6 virtues), with all these three
qualifications culminating in Mumukshatva (intense craving for liberation).
Again,
these are not easy. It is Author’s experience that amongst those who started
attending his spiritual sessions, while the initial sessions like Purpose of
Human Birth, Surrender, Karma etc. were found interesting by them, as they had
nothing to acquire and they had only everything to listen. But when it came to
the session on these 4 qualifications, many of them left and never turned back
again for more sessions.
BHAKTI/
DEVOTION
Bhakti can
be practised under all conditions and by all alike, irrespective of age and
sex.
Learning,
austere penance, study of the Vedas, brilliant intellect are not needed for the
attainment of Bhakti or devotion. What is wanted is constant and living
remembrance of God, coupled with faith. That is the reason why the path of
Bhakti is (Saulabhyam) available for everyone .
Bhakti is
the easiest path because in Devotion, one does not have to acquire any
qualifications, one does not have to indulge in intense austerities, one does
not have to sit and meditate on something abstract.
A human
being is nothing but Love, inside out. In devotion, one has to channelize one’s
love from worldly object to God supreme and pray to God sincerely, wherever one
is.
It is but
manifesting of one’s inherent quality of Love and directing it towards the
supreme merciful God who responds instantly to the call of a sincere Bhakta.
Speaking
of devotion, Swami says,
Every discipline and every action which leads man to God is not
difficult to be implemented. For instance, a Vedic Brahmin takes the holy water
of the Ganges in the palm of his hand and offers the same water back to the
sacred river. The truth is that he is not offering his property or his father's
property or his grandfather's property but he is offering the holy water that
he has drawn from the sacred river back to the river.
Similarly, when we look
at the objects offered by man to God, they are all created, preserved and
bestowed upon man by God Himself. Man is not offering anything of his own,
except when he is offering his devotion arising from his heart. God takes care
of that devotee who completely surrenders himself with single-minded devotion
at the lotus feet of the Lord.
If one is intoxicated with divine love and
forgets all worldly responsibilities, God will take upon Himself all the
responsibilities of that devotee.”
(Divine discourse -May 1972)
Love.
PS:-
1)
The views expressed in this sutra is Narada's view.
2) This is not to undermine the path followed by Sage Patanjali (Raja Yoga) or Adi Sankara (Jnana yoga) or few other masters who have followed the path of Karma as their predominant path.
3) How ever, from Author's own experience in his sadhana over 45+ years in this birth, he can say authentically that even for progressing in the path of Jnana, background of devotion is required.
Author was soaked in Bhakti for His Bhagawan Sai from his childhood. His long journey in the path of devotion had reduced the ego element in him, he had started getting more and more inward, his heart was full of ever expansive love for Sai and His creation and when he was ushered into the path of Jnana by none other than Sai, all that had to be experienced was the formless SELF in place of LOVE for God.
With sincere efforts, God showers grace for this replacement of Love with SELF or, LOVE + SELF or SELF that is LOVE.
Author can say very clearly that without the background of Bhakti for over 4 decades in this birth (and many more decades in many more previous births), it would / might have been very difficult to contemplate on an abstract God that is Atman and to discover that Atman within the heart.
Love.
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