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!
Chapter
Nine; Section 1 - Fruits of Love Divine; Greatness of Supreme Love.
A
little anecdote to begin this week, demonstrating the benefit of True
Devotion.
Sri Narada was walking through
a forest and came upon two sadhus singing the praises of the Lord. When they
saw the great sage approach, they beseeched him to ask Bhagavan when He would
give them darshan (vision) of Himself.
Narada-ji meditated and came back to one man with the answer that he
needed to take one hundred more births before receiving darshan. That fellow
became dejected and wondered aloud as to what was 'the point of making such
effort in this life then? May as well leave this forest life!' To the other
bhakta, Narada-ji gave the message that he had even more than the hundred to return
and that he would have to go back through some other forms such as leaves on
tree and the like. This second fellow jumped with joy, surprising both the sage
and his disgruntled companion. He told them he was delighted because, 'God at
least knows who I am and that my efforts thus far are acknowledged. What is
more, darshan will be mine with continued good efforts.' … in that moment
itself, Bhagavan saw the Love in the man and gave darshan immediately.
It
is examples such as this which prompt Narada-ji to now extol Bhakti-marg;
iÇsTySy
_ai´rev grIysI _ai´rev grIysI.81.
Trisatyasya
bhaktireva gariiyasii, bhaktireva gariiyasii ||81||
Of the three 'truths' (paths), devotion alone is the
greatest; (indeed) devotion alone is the greatest.
The
greatest Master of Bhakti makes an emphatic statement! This is to be expected,
one might say. It could be seen as being rather totalitarian; but it also shows
the very nature of devotion. There can be no compromise if we are to reach a
goal, no matter what hurdle is put before us. Find a path and stick to it!
Interesting
is the vocabulary used in this sutra, though. By using the term 'truths', the
Guru could also be referring to the three states of consciousness (waking,
dream, deep sleep), or the three periods of time (past, present, future). In
doing this, for those who are prepared to ponder deeply on this teaching, it
can be found that any who practice in any of the other saadhanas, at any time
in their practice and in any state they find themselves, can approach bhakti.
It can be the base from which their other saadhanas arise. It alone is a path
that anyone can follow, at any time and in any physical or mental circumstance,
regardless of environment or challenges. This is its special glory.
Thus
we can see that Love conquers all! It behooves a Karmi, or a Jnaani, to keep
touching base with the 'feeling' of the Lord, whereas a Bhakta can remain only
on that path and still gain from it. That said, any great and beautiful
philosophy has no enduring significance if it is not practiced in daily life.
Grow into it and in the end come to experience it directly; if not all the
promised joys arrive, we will at least find life a little lighter and brighter
from the practice.
What
does it mean, 'practice'? Narad-ji does not leave the student waving in the
wind. The next section tells of different ways to approach Bhakti.
