Bhakti is a state of mind. One of the definitions of bhakti is that which makes our emotions tender, chaste, and pure. Bhakti Yoga is a form of emotional purification.
We experience different emotions throughout the day – we feel affection when we see a child, feel jealousy when someone else possesses something that we do not have, feel hatred when we see our enemy, etc. Based on the emotion generated, thoughts start flowing in our minds and strengthen the emotion further. When our emotions result from the external world and what our sensory objects perceive, emotions such as greed, lust, jealousy, etc. arise. When the same emotion is disconnected from the external world and is directed towards the inner soul, its form is that of bhakti.
From the thirteenth until the twentieth verse in Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna defines and explains bhakti. He says that there is tranquillity and equanimity within when our soul is free from the influence of the outside materialistic world and what our senses perceive. The first trait of a bhakta that Sri Krishna talks about is: 'not the one who sings God's name, not the one who does chanting, not the one who does kirtan, not the one who only contemplates about Me'.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी।।12.13।।
Sri Krishna clearly states ‘Adhweshtaa Sarvabhootanam’ – one who is not hateful towards any creature for he sees divinity in all; one who sees one soul in everyone. Unfortunately, we are not able to see the divine in all beings. Sri Krishna goes on to say ‘Maitrah Karuna Eva cha’ - he who is friendly, kind, and compassionate to all, ‘Nirmamaa’ – he who has no idea of I, me and mine, ‘Nirahankara’ – the one who is free from egoism, ‘Sama dukkha sukha’ – he who is the same under sorrow and happiness, ‘Kshami’ – he who is forgiving – such a being, such a devotee, is dear to Me.
The best sadhana in Bhakti Yoga is Atmabhava. Atmabhava means the divinity that is within us is the one we see in others. It is a feeling of oneness. Through the attainment of Atmabhava, one is able to connect with one's society, world, family, and God. The God is seen in every human being. For example, when a person is sad and I realize that the God in him is sad, I would then work towards the betterment of that person. This is the real form of Bhakti Yoga.
So Bhakti Yoga is channeling our emotions. There are two types of sadhana in Bhakti Yoga – one is Antaranga and the other is Bahiranga. The principle of Antaranga sadhana is always holding on to positive thoughts and keeping the negative thoughts away. The purpose of Antaranga sadhana in Bhakti Yoga is to awaken the heart, so that one may become aware, experience, and feel the reflection of God within oneself as well as within all beings. The first step in Bahiranga practice is to serve. The second step is to love and the third step is to give. Through these, one attains internal purification. When one becomes purified, one becomes good. When one becomes good, he/she does good.
Bhakti Yoga is the easiest path because here one operates with emotions, with faith, and belief. It is the path of 'Self Yoga’ – it’s all about everything that is within me. Through the practice of Bhakti Yoga, I exercise my willpower and awaken the God within me.
Learning about Bhakti Yoga as part of the Yoga Bharati YTT course has been a rewarding experience for me. Further, Raghuramji’s talk on Bhakti Yoga helped me understand how ‘Asmin Param Prema Rupa’ or ‘Supreme Love’ dissolves our ego and personal preferences, heightens our emotions i.e, Compassion and how we find happiness in others' happiness. My curiosity to dive deeper into this science started from here and this article is a compilation of what I have learnt and realized from my faculty members and the magazines published by Bihar School of Yoga.
By,
Anitha Shankar
Yogabharati Teacher training course student of Batch 2021