Hari
OM
Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!
The Narada Bhakti Sutra is our guide for a while… the
nature of Love (with the capital 'ell') and a full exploration of it. As
always, you are encouraged to seek out the full text from Chinmaya Publications
(links in side-bar); but for those who prefer e-readers, this version is recommended. Whilst awareness and interest can be
raised by these posts on AV-blog, they cannot substitute for a thorough reading
and contemplation...and practice!
We
now move on to Chapter 2, Section 1, which has three sutraani giving rationale
as to the greatness of Bhakti. The first two are very closely linked, so will
be given together here.
sa
tu kmR}anyaege_yae=Pyixktra.25.
Saa
tu karmajnaanayogebhyo-pyadikataraa ||25||
)lêpTvat!.26.
Pfala-ruupat-vaat
||26||
That (Supreme Devotion=Bhakti) is indeed as a
technique, even superior to the paths of action, knowledge and disciplined
contemplation.
(Because) it is of the nature of the fruits of all
yogas.
The
four yogas/paths for attainment of spiritual perfection are Karma (action),
Bhakti (devotion), Raaja (aka Hatha - keeping body disciplined) and Jnaana
(Knowledge). It is generally accepted that each sadhaka must find the path
which suits their circumstances and temperament best. Each yoga, quite
naturally, will put arguments forward as to why it may be considered better
than others - but this can only be true if the
seeker is fitted for it. Any worthwhile and dedicated seeker will
actually give all a chance in order to find the best fit for themselves - at no
time is another to be considered greater or lesser, actually. The goal of all paths is exactly the
same, only the means differ.
Karma - this path is not only within Hinduism;
in every community we find that those who act selflessly are revered. Awareness
of one's activities and dedicating them to the betterment of one's
family/community/nation is Karma. Do we not all know people like this? Do we
not measure ourselves against their actions? Whether or not they proclaim a
faith structure as the anchor for their actions matters not. What is
important is that they had the Love inside to act selflessly.
Raja - no doubt keeping the physical being as
healthy and fit as possible, treating the body as the temple, enables our
actions, frees the mind from worry about health and is a very visual indication
of dedication. Again, this is not just an Indian thing - all cultures value
physical fitness, is it not? Not always unselfishly though and there is danger
of it becoming very selfish, in fact. In and of itself, it benefits only the
practitioner - however, if they are feeling well, they are more likely also to
be feeling happier and that is generally better for those with whom they
socialise. The greatest benefit from Raja, however, is when the love for the
physical is practiced with, and transforms to, Love for the Higher.
Jnaana - where in the world is knowledge not
considered worth the having? Nowhere. The term 'jnaana', however, is rather
specific to Hindu tradition in that it refers to capital 'k' Knowledge of the
Self. In working towards that, all other knowledges will accumulate. The
Sanskrit tradition is that complete
Knowledge was given in gurukula and there was no separation. Somewhere in
history, the material knowledges (science, art, engineering etc) got separated
out as being of more value to life. The science and art of living became
something of a casualty. Jnaana-marg requires that we reconnect with the
original purpose of study and to do this we require an element of Love for the
Higher possibilities in life.
Bhakti - Love, however, stands alone. It is
present in each of the preceding when they are working at their best - indeed
it could be said that the first three are empty and pointless without the
presence of Love - but Love Divine can be present without the other three. Each
of the first three are saadhanas which require specific actions, tools,
methods, understandings and so forth. Love only requires to 'be'. Love has to
be present for selfless action, for applied dedication of the body and for the
subject being studied. Love is therefore already present and waiting to be
taken up; Love must remain for full benefits to be obtained; and Love continues
even when the other three are done. Love is an expression of Higher Self.
This
is why Narad-ji argues Bhakti is the greatest after all. Even the heartiest
atheist cannot argue against pure, unselfish, no-ties, unconditional,
all-encompassing Love!
$ñrSyaPyi_amanÖei;Tvat!
dENyiàyKtTvaCc.27.
Iishvarasya-apy-abhimaana-dveshitvaat
dainyapriyak-tatvaat-cha ||27||
Also because of God's dislike for egoism and because
of His love for meekness.
The
Guru furthers the argument with the authority of the Divine itself. Iishvara is
the name given to the god-principle with which the majority of the world is
familiar - the God with human-like qualities and therefore having preferences
for our behaviour. However, even if one does not accept a theist view, the
concept of ego versus humility is not difficult to accept as a guiding
principle for our own behaviours. The minute we allow ourselves to become vain
about the good actions (…"after all I've done for them!"…),
over-proud of our physical disciplines (…"see how many reps of gym I can
do?!"…), or possessive of our knowledge (…"what does s/he know? I
have so much better understanding"…) we are in trouble!
It
is not that we cannot have a sense of worth and value in all these things. We
must. However, the moment we start to feel the pricks of competition, jealousy,
arrogance and so on enter our thinking with regard to what we are doing, we are
lost to our ego. Egoism doesn't have to mean bullying and boastfulness - it can
be the inverse, whereby self-esteem plummets and we are all the time thinking
everyone else is better than us. It is still seeing life as a competition
allowing our ego-self to dictate our nature and, from the psycho-spiritual
perspective, this is very unhealthy.
Love
Divine does not wish this upon us. Love Divine can bring us out of such bleak
behaviours. All that is required is surrender of that part of the ego which
seeks to separate us from living fully in the shining light of Love.
