1) So the first condition for sadhan
bhakti is "bhakti must be done constantly".
2) The second condition is to "establish
a relationship with God". How?
3) We are to simply think "He
is mine".
4) We should not think God is the Lord
Almighty, all powerful, very distant, so on.
5) Only then, love sprouts or develops
for God within us.
6) We can establish a variety of relationships
with God.
For example, the most powerful President
or Prime Minister is also a husband, father, grandfather, friend, master, boss, etc. In each role, his nature and behaviour
are different. Likewise, God can assume several roles vis-à-vis His devotee, depending on the situations, places, contexts,
needs.
7) Scriptures say devotion motivated by
fear of God, punishment, etc, is the lowest form of bhakti.
8) When you consider someone as "mine",
then love develops.
There was a time when marriages were solemnized
with the bride and the groom never seeing each other before their wedding. Yet, the bride would develop love for the groom,
without ever seeing his face, the moment she realizes that he is her swami. The moment her mind identifies with the person,
she develops love for her husband.
9) Likewise, think of Lord Krishna as mine,
then you will begin loving him automatically.
10) Like it was pointed out earlier, the
second condition "establish a relationship with God" must not be based on fear but on any of the five emotions (shaant
bhaav, daasya bhaav, sakhya bhaav, vatsalya bhaav and madhurya bhaav).
11) Shaant bhaav is one between
King ("Krishna is my lord / king") and his subjects. This is typical of brajwasis.
12) Daasya Bhaav is one between
master and servant. Ram-bhakth Hanuman is a classic example.
13) Sakhya bhaav is one between
friends. Arjun is a classic example; another example is Krishna's childhood friends.
14) Vaatsalya bhaav is one between
Child and parent. Yasoda and Nand are examples.
15) Madhurya bhaav is one between
the beloved and the lover. Radha, gopis are examples.
16) In shaant bhaav, relationship
is distant, one of great formality and distance. There is no personal aspect or service. Laxminarayan devotees are an example.
Rasik saints have steered clear of this bhaav though.
17) In daasya bhaav, we get personal
service. It's not based on quid pro quo type of dealing. There is simply service -- no expectations in return.
What kind of service marks this bhaav? Selfless service, wherein every element of one's body could be in service of
God even after death. Such service will make God feel indebted to His servant (devotee). Several formalities, propriety, distance
from God are involved in this bhaav. When love increases, formalities cease though.
18) In sakhya bhaav, friends of
Sri Krishna mingle with Him as though He is really one of them, as though He is not God, as if He is their equal. What kind
of love do they taste? Loving pastimes with His friends give us the answer. They graze cows together; they share food brought
from home; they play games; discuss unusual subjects and tease each other ("Krishna has two mothers").
19) Next are vaatsalya bhaav and
madhurya bhaav.
Please
note: the Swamiji elaborated on these and other topics (like 'why we need a guru', 'who is a true guru') in the subsequent
house programmes (satsangs at devotees' houses) across Singapore.
Click here for the salient points of the satsangs from 09 May to 13 May.
Click here for the salient points of the satsangs from 14 May to 17 May.
Click here for the salient points of the Q&A session during Spiritual Picnic
