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!
After
a month's break, it is especially necessary that you recap the previous half
dozen or so posts on NBS in particular, the whole if possible. Ideally, some of what was read has also been
'mulled over' and at least some uplift of saadhana taken place. We are
approximately half-way through the text now. Use today as a saadhana practice
and go back through the teachings.
To
encourage you, and to have some fun, here are six simple questions. This is,
after all, 'Workings-day! It is entirely up to you to go through these and
answer them - what would be great is that you do so to ensure you have a grasp
of the flow of the text; even better would be if you took time to put the
answers together, with perhaps an expansion of your understanding of the
teaching therein, and emailed
them to Yamini-amma so she can give you feedback. The questions are not given
per the order of study, therefore, if you have been taking notes and paid
attention to the concepts of each chapter, answering them ought to be easy. If
neither of these has taken place, it might engage you in more focused reading.
This blog is being provided for your own betterment; use it well!
- In which section of which chapter do we find 'discussions of teachers' about how best to kindle the Love Divine?
- In which sutra do we read, "In the worship of the Lord with deep love and firm attachment…" as a description of Bhakti?
- In which sutra are we told that "Having known Bhakti, one becomes intoxicated, silent and enjoys in the Self"?
- In which section of which chapter are we given 'methods for Bhakti'?
- In which sutra are we told that our Bhakti ought to be "Just as the Love of the gopies for Vraja"?
- In which sutra are we warned that not following advice we risk falling from the spiritual path?
Enjoy
your review!
