|| Shree Hari ||
The Eminence of Bhakti (Love and Devotion)भक्तिकी श्रेष्ठता
continued.....
Knowledge (jnana) and Devotion (bhakti) - both are equally capable in removing worldly sorrows; however, of the two, there is greater glories of “bhakti” (love and devotion) than of knowledge. In knowledge there is “akhand ras” (uninterrupted relish), but in “bhakti” there is “anant ras” (infinite relish). In “anant ras” , there is a special kind of joy like the bouncing waves. Just as when we gain
knowledge of anything in this world, that this is money, this is a watch, then this knowledge, wipes out the ignorance. When ignorance is removed, then sorrow, fear, and bondage in the form of birth-death come to an end. This sorrow, fear, etc. it all arises out of ignorance. Just as in the pitch darkness of the night, even though a man is familiar with the place, he walks slowly and cautiously, so that he may not stumble upon something. But when the sunlight appears, he is no longer fearful of stumbling, and he is even able to run and cross that area. In the darkness of ignorance, there is sorrow, fear, remorse etc. and the moment one gains knowledge, they all go away. However, Love is even more extra-ordinary then knowledge. Just as when one comes to know that “this is a watch” ‒ then ignorance about the watch is removed.
However, when there is a longing to acquire a watch, then on getting the watch there is an exceptional relish that is experienced. ‘This is money’‒ on having this knowledge, and developing greed for money, that “let me acquire some more, some more” then in that one derives exceptional relish. Similarly, in love and devotion there an exceptional relish (ras), that let me chant more of the Lord’s Name, let there be more singing of His glories, let there be more talks about the Lord. Just as there is greed for money ‒ ‘Jimi pratilaabh lobh
adhikaayi’, like that, there is love and devotion of God ‒‘dine dine navam navam namaami nandasambhavam’. Greed (attraction in this world) and Love (attraction of God) ‒ there is a big difference between the two. In greed the sorrow increases and in Love the joy increases. Desires and infatuation increases in greed, and in Love, renunciation increases. The attraction in the world is due to flaws,
but attraction towards God is due to flawlessness.
Knowledge is not something meaningless and ordinary ‒‘Na hi gyaanena sadrusham pavitramiha vidyate” (Gita 4/38). ‘There is no spiritual discipline as pure as knowledge on this earth” Knowledge destroys ignorance, it gives peace. it gives liberation. But in knowledge, peace, and “uninterrupted relish” “akhandras” remains, whereas in love and devotion (bhakti) there is ever increasing love, anantras. That relish, never comes to an end, it constantly increases. Because even on being in love, there is an immense feeling of scarcity, which is called “eternal separation”. In this “eternal separation” the love becomes ever increasing. Just as when one experiences joy in “kirtan” then the sentiments are one of “let me get more relish, and more and more”. the previous relish felt less, therefore the the feeling is one of “more
relish”. Thus there is feeling of separation with the first type of relish and there is union in the relish further ahead. In love, this union and separation is constantly going one. therefore it is called eternal union and eternal separation.
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From Book in Hindi "Jit Dekhu Tit Tu" by Swami Ramsukhdasji
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -