Bhakti-yoga, the process of rendering devotional service to the Supreme Lord, culminates in the complete realisation of God and the attainment of His spiritual abode.
There are diverse conceptions regarding the nature and characteristics of God across various religions and philosophical traditions in the world. Each offers distinct processes for experiencing and realising the Divine.
Amidst these numerous perspectives, the Vedic texts, particularly the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, provide clear and authoritative guidance. These scriptures establish Lord Krishna as the Supreme Lord and offer methods to connect with and realise Him.
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Known by Many, Understood by Few
Lord Krishna is the complete manifestation of the Supreme Truth. He is Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is established by Krishna Himself in the Bhagavad-gita and acknowledged by all the Puranas, especially the Srimad Bhagavatam. Moreover, it is affirmed by great acharyas like Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, and other Vedic authorities.
Despite this, Krishna’s pastimes, His appearance, and His disappearance in this world are frequently misinterpreted and misunderstood by most people. This topic remains a mystery for them as it is challenging to comprehend His true spiritual nature. Krishna Himself states that out of many thousands among men, one may strive for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Him in truth (Bhagavad-gita 7.3).
Krishna Reveals How to Understand Him
In the Bhagavad-gita (11.54), Krishna reveals that He can only be understood as He is and is directly seen through uninterrupted devotional service.
This process of connecting with God through devotional service is called bhakti-yoga.
Bhakti-yoga: The Pinnacle of All Yogas
While other forms of yoga, such as karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, and ashtanga-yoga, offer ways to connect with God, they do not, by themselves, lead to a complete understanding of Krishna. These practices provide partial realisations of God and serve as steps on the path culminating in bhakti-yoga.
The yoga practice can be likened to a ladder, with bhakti-yoga representing the highest rung and other yogas representing the lower rungs.
Thus, the process of devotional service is described as the king of all education and the king of all confidential knowledge. Directly pursuing bhakti-yoga is akin to using an elevator to reach the top of a building, while practising other yogas is comparable to using a staircase.
The Practice of Bhakti-yoga
Bhakti-yoga consists of nine different activities related to the Lord: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshipping, praying, maintaining friendship, and surrendering everything.
Out of these, the first two – hearing and chanting- are most important. The scriptures recommend chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord in the form of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Additionally, one should hear from the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam as spoken by realised souls.
Just as a physician prescribes medicine and diet to cure a patient, the process of chanting and hearing acts as medicine for the soul, while eating Krishna prasadam serves as a diet to cure ignorance about God.
Thus, the journey of devotional service begins with the tongue; by chanting Krishna’s name and honouring Krishna prasadam, the heart becomes purified, leading to the realisation of the Supreme.
Krishna Reveals Himself by Our Service Attitude
Devotional service is not a mechanical process; it requires a sincere service attitude. Just as we cannot command the sun to rise, we cannot demand that Krishna reveal Himself. However, when Krishna is pleased with our loving service, He reveals Himself, illuminating our understanding just as the sun lights up the world when he rises on his own.
In conclusion, bhakti-yoga is not mere sentimentality but a profound science rooted in authorised Vedic scriptures. By practising this science, one can make swift spiritual progress, achieve the supreme perfection of realising God, and ultimately return to the spiritual world.