Sadhana … Path of Bhakti •
… from teachings of
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Compiled by: Dr. M. Thirumaleshwar July 28, 2016
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Sadhana-Three Paths Swami says: • Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion), and Karma (Work) … these are the three paths. • There should be a harmonious mix of these three.
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Sadhana-Three Paths Swami says: • Ex: A piece of ‘Barfi’ has a shape, weight and taste; if the piece is in your hands, you have got all the three attributes of barfi in your hands • Similarly: Karma is the shape, Jnana is the weight and Bhakti is the taste; let all the three be there together July 28, 2016
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Swami says: • The present age is described in the scriptures as very conducive to liberation, for, while in past ages, rigorous penance was prescribed as the means, the present iron age (kali yuga) requires only repetition of the name of God (namasmarana) to win liberation. July 28, 2016
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Swami… first teaching.. • First teaching of Sai was: • ‘Manasa bhajare Gurucharanam… dustara bhava sagara taranam..’ i.e. • To cross the difficult ocean of Samsara… worship mentally the holy feet of the Guru..
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What is Bhakti? .. Swami says: • Bhakti is not a dress to be worn on Thursday bhajans and removed after the bhajan is over! • Again, Bhakti is not like the lemon pickle used while suffering from fever! • Bhakti … is that by which you see and love Him, who is All, and who is in All July 28, 2016
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What is Bhakti? .. Swami says: • LOVE: • • • • • • • • •
On children…. called Affection On parents … called Respect On wife … called Infatuation On relatives … called Attachment On Guru, elders … called Obedience On friends …. called Friendship On money …. called Greed On worldly things, riches, power … called Ego On GOD … called Bhakti (or, Devotion)
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What is Bhakti? .. Swami says: • It is not true Bhakti… to divide the mind in to various pieces and offer one piece to GOD • True Bhakti is: complete surrender to Him with one-pointed Love • It is impossible to attain True Bhakti for the one with a mind that runs in various directions
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Signs of Bhakti .. Swami says: • ..Supreme Love, affection on God • Proof of rain is… wetness of ground; and • Proof of growing in Bhakti is…deep peace of mind
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Signs of Bhakti .. Swami says:
• Real devotee is peaceful and filled with bliss in all circumstances .. honordishonor, profit-loss, love-hate .. etc.
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Signs of Bhakti .. Swami says: • Know that … all works done with hands are His service, all movements of feet are His circumambulation, whatever is seen with eyes is His form, whatever is heard with ears is His voice …this is the sign of ‘ParaBhakti’ , supreme devotion. … July 28, 2016
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Signs of Bhakti .. Swami says: • For a ‘Bhakta’ (devotee) GOD is easily available everywhere; but, for GOD, a ‘devotee’ is not easily available! • It is rarely that a devotee is available with Faith that is unshakeable by any one, and with complete surrender July 28, 2016
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Bhakti ... Swami says: • Two types of Bhakti.. ‘Saguna’ (with form) and ‘Nirguna’ (without form) • These two are like left and right foot; both are not on ground at the same time when you walk • Lakshmana is example of ‘Saguna devotee’; Bharata’s devotion was of Nirguna type • Still, Bharata asked for Rama’s ‘paduka’ (i.e. sandals); i.e. Nirguna also desires Saguna! July 28, 2016
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Bhakti... Swami says: • When sun is straight over the head, no shadow is seen; • And, when faith is firm in the mind, shadow of doubt will not exist!
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Bhakti... Swami says: • Magnet of a compass always points to North; even when shaken or disturbed, it immediately comes back to its position happily and shows North • Similarly, a devotee is always happy in the presence of GOD, facing Him only at all times
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Bhakti ... Swami says: • Nine types of devotion: Type
Example
Shravanam (listening)
King Parikshith
Keerthanam (singing)
Sage Narada
Smaranam (remembering)
Prahlada
Vandanam (saluting)
Akrura
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Bhakti ... Swami says: • Nine types of devotion … contd.. Type
Example
Padasevanam (worhip Lord’s feet)
Goddess Kakshmi
Archanam (worship)
King Puru
Daasyam (service)
Hanuman
Sakhyam (friendship)
Arjuna
Atma-nivedanam (surrender)
King Bali
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Bhakti … its importance.. • In ‘Lalita sahasranama’ hymns, divine Mother is praised as follows: • ‘Bhakti priya’ … one who loves Bhakti • ‘Bhakti gamya’ … one who is attained with Bhakti • ‘Bhakti vashya’ … one who is attained and held with Bhakti
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Bhakti ….. Kannada Saint Sarvajna says: • Mukti (emancipation) is only by Bhakti (devotion); • Shakti (power) is only by Bhakti. • Without Bhakti and dispassion, no possibility of Mukti here on earth. • The devotee mixes with devotees, plays with devotees, and is devoted to the devotees.. indeed, such a one is emancipated. July 28, 2016
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Swami says … Devotees dear to me… • … have: discrimination, dispassion, knowledge, humility • … are aware of Truth • …are always aware of my Glory • … always.. in all places, at all times, and in all circumstances, remember my name • … tears of joy well up in their eyes when they hear God’s names… • …. Such are my real devotees.
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Signs of a Bhakta (devotee)..Gita • Lord Krishna says in Gita: • No enmity towards all life forms, friendship, mercy, no feeling of ‘mine’ and ‘I’, equal minded in grief and joy, forgiveness, always satisfied, always a ‘yogi’, of firm resolve, whose mind and intellect are offered to me … such a devotee is very dear to me. July 28, 2016
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Signs of a Bhakta… Saint Jnaneshwar says: • No enmity towards any one, equal minded toward all.. just as: • Earth bears the weight of ‘good man’ and that of a ‘wicked man’ equally… • Water quenches the thirst of a tiger and that of a cow equally … • ‘Prana’ (breath) is present in a king as well as in a servant equally, causing them to be alive.. July 28, 2016
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Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa… • Sin and merit… I offer both these at your feet, • Knowledge and Ignorance… take both these and give me pure devotion, • Again, sacred and unsacred, good and bad .. I keep all at your feet.. • Oh Mother, grant me only pure, taintless love and devotion to Thee July 28, 2016
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Saint Tukaram says… • Essence of endless Vedas is only this: • Take refuge in GOD and remember His name sincerely in your heart • Tuka says: this is the message of all scriptures and the 18 ‘puranas’
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Sri Shankaracharya has said: • Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda … oh dull-witted man! • When the appointed time to depart from this world arrives… rules of grammar (scholarship) will not save you!
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Sri Shankaracharya has prayed:
• ‘In this ocean of Samsara, which is difficult to cross, oh God, mercifully help me to cross it and save me’
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Bhakti ... Swami says: • Bhakti… is the means to destroy the feeling of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ • That is why, they say that Bhakta and GOD are ‘Avibhakta’ or inseparable from each other July 28, 2016
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Bhakti ... Swami says: • In the state of Bhakti, devotee has no other existence except GOD • GOD is devotee’s breath, and all the actions of devotee are from GOD and for GOD • All his thoughts are of GOD only • All his words are from GOD, about GOD July 28, 2016
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Bhakta rejoices in … • Lord says in Gita: • My devotees.. With their mind and ‘prana’ offered to me, they enlighten each other about me, speak about me … and find supreme happiness
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Different modes of Devotion… Swami says: • There are different modes of devotion.. • .. That which foolishly weeps for me when I am not physically present, • .. That which surrenders to me with wild abandon, • .. That which is steady and strong, ever attached to my Will • I accept all these forms of devotion July 28, 2016
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Swami says: • I do not ask for perfect concentration or full renunciation. I ask only for your Love… • Love that sees me and serves me in all beings • I ask only that you turn to me, when your mind drags you into grief, pride or envy. • …. I will not reject you, I am your mother • No matter where you go, I am there. July 28, 2016
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Swami says: • Be equal minded. Then you will not be bothered about ‘doing’ or ‘not doing’, ‘success’ or ‘failure’; the balance will remain unaffected by either. • Let the wave of memory, storm of desire, fire of emotion pass through, without affecting your equanimity… • Be a witness of these. July 28, 2016
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True Devotion… Swami says: • Proof of true devotion is in the peace of mind that the aspirant has been able to attain… • Peace which is unruffled by loss and dis-honor, • Peace that is not perturbed by anger, hatred, jealousy, conceit and lower passions • Peace that makes him feel tranquil, unconcerned and un-attached under all circumstances and with all human natures Know that you are the embodiment of that PEACE
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Sadhana -- Path of Bhakti Lovingly offered at the Lotus Feet of
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by M. Thirumaleshwar July 28, 2016
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