Thursday, October 20, 2016

A bhakta should be like Hanuman. He should always be cheerful, with Nama persistently on His lips, and also engaged in kainkarya

Nama Article 20th Oct 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 6

In the sixth sloka, Bhagavan describes such bhaktas (devotees) who are incessantly meditating on the Lord, dedicating all that they do to Him.


ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः।

अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते।।12.6।।


ye thu sarvAni karmAni mayi sanyasya mathparA: |

ananyenaiva yogena maam dhyaayantha upaasathe ||6||


A bhakta should be like Hanuman. He should always be cheerful, with Nama persistently on His lips, and also engaged in kainkarya (devotional service).

A true bhakta does anything and everything, only to please The Lord. One listens to a concert, watches movies, watches a cricket match all night, only because he enjoys doing it. Similarly a bhakta does not do bhakti for punya (merits) or expecting anything else. Be it Bhagavan's procession, or listening to His Divine Leelas, or singing kirtans, he does any devotional activity, for the sole purpose of the joy it gives him. He enjoys everything he does. He will only consider it his good fortune, and would not deem it as his punya.

Just as we begin to understand how to develop such bhakti, it is important to also know what could be the factors that hinder it. When one eagerly goes to Kasi for a holy dip in the Ganga, does he not remind himself to watch out for a slippery floor when he steps down? Likewise, it is essential to know what the obstacles in the path of bhakti are, before we tread on it.

ONLY WHEN ONE BUILDS SUCH A FENCE AROUND HIMSELF, CAN BHAKTI GROW IN HIM.

These are elaborated in the link Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 6:

SELF-PRAISE

RIDICULING OTHERS

CRITICISING GOD

REVEALING EXPERIENCES

INDIFFERENCE TO SATSANGA

DISDAIN TO HOLY PRASAD

DISRESPECT

LYING

DISREGARDING THE WORDS OF THE GURU

MAN-WOMAN ASSOCIATION

MOCKERY

GREED FOR WEALTH

DEVOTION TO OTHER GODS

BAD COMPANY

CRITICISING OTHER GODS

LAZINESS

BEING CARRIED AWAY BY SUPERNATURAL POWERS


Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare


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