The Secret of Devotion (continued)
It has been stated in Srimad Bhagwat that even if one has no desire, or has all sorts of desires, or desires only liberation, then too, an intelligent gentleman through intense discipline of Devotion (Love), must worship the eternal One Divine Lord only.
Akaamah sarvakaamo vaa mokshakaam udaaradhih |
Teevrena bhakti yogen yajet purusham param || (2/3/10)
In this stanza, the word "akaam" must be understood as a "jnaani bhakt" (wise devotee, a lover of God), "Mokshkaam" must be understood as a devotee with quest to know and "Sarvakaam" must be understood as one who is devoted to the Lord for pleasures, material prosperity, and to remove his afflictions.
A "jnaani bhakt," a wise devotee of the Lord is he who knows the truth about God, knows God in essence, and with a disinterested spirit naturally, constantly and continuously worships and is devoted to God. A devotee who is a "jigyaasu" (one who has quest for knowledge, inquires on the truth), wants to know the essential nature of God and worships and remembers God. "aarthaarthi bhakt" is one who depends on God and wants worldly pleasures and material things from God alone and "aart bhakt is one who wishes to be relieved from worldly afflictions and difficulties through God.
In Gita these same devotees' desire laden and desire free sentiments are revealed in four ways -
Chaturvidha bhajante maam janaah sukrutinorjuna |
Aarto jigyaasuratharthi gyaani cha bharatashabh || (Gita 7/16)
"Four kinds of virtuous men worship Me, O' Arjuna; the seeker, of wealth, the afflicted, those who quest for knowledge and the wise (jnani). "
Of these the devotee of the ordinary category is the one who is a seeker of wealth and pleasures "arthaarthi", higher than that is the afflicted devotee (aart), and above that is one who has a quest for knowledge (jiyaasu) and greater than the "jiyaasu" is one who is a lover of God (gyaani) bhakt. He who enters in the loving devotion of the Lord desiring pleasures and sense objects, his aim is primarily that of things and his focus on devotion and love of God is secondary; because he worships God for material things, not for God Himself. He considers God as a means for producing wealth, then too having full faith and trust in God, he worships and remembers the Lord therefore he is called a devotee (bhakt).
He who naturally loves God, and he who is innately engaged in remembrance and worship of the Lord, however, but when his wealth and prosperity diminishes, or when the body is undergoing pain and suffering; then to remove those afflictions, he calls out to the Lord, that "Aarth" devotee, does not wish to engage in sense pleasures or hoard like the "Arthaarthi", but when the things owned disappear, and the body undergoes difficulties and he cannot bear the bodily pain and difficulties, thus his expectation and desire from it is lesser and a devotee who has quest for knowing (jigyaasu) does not desire either power or grandeur, nor does he care about being provided with the basic essentials; he only wants to know the Truth, the Essence Nature of God and for know this he remains entirely dependent on God alone, and worships God.
(to be continued)
From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" By Swami Ramsukhdasji
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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT Date : 10th November, 2011 – BHAGWAD BHAKTI KA RAHASYA
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