|| Shri Hari |

The Nature of 'Bhajan'

(Devotion and Worship)

continued.....

Some thought has to be given to an additional point and that is, God listens to what is in our mind, i.e. when He creates a situation that is conducive to what we like, then we should be hesitant,  thinking that could God have possibly done so, keeping our wishes in mind,  honoring us?   If he has done this to fulfill our wishes,  then it will not be good;  because we have undergone many births doing as per our wishes and desires; henceforth,  we do not want to do so.   Now we only want what God wills.   That is it, a devotee only wants what God wills.   Therefore he is ever joyful in God’s dispensation, whether God’s ordinance is favorable or unfavorable to his mind, senses, and body.   The reason being that when he moves forward with full acceptance that it is God’s will,  then both favorable and unfavorable situations will lead to auspiciousness and eternal joy.    That is a devotee, does not have an independent will that is separate from the Lord.  He blends his will in God’s will.   

     In this manner,  remembrance of God,  obeying his command,  surrendering everything to the Lord,  and remaining ever joyful in God’s dispensation,  all this is itself “bhajan” (devotion and worship of the Lord).  

        Therefore we must all want that very quickly we must become God’s.  Become God’s in such a way that while doing the Lord’s “bhajan”  the speech becomes filled with emotions,  the intellect gets deeply moved,   the mind becomes engaged in God.   Then one does not have to do “bhajan”,  rather,  “bhajan” takes place naturally, only then “bhajan” is “bhajan”, otherwise it is an imitation.    Because,  the bhajan that has to be done,  is false, and that which happens on its own, is genuine.   Even imitation is better than not doing “bhajan”  at all.   Even the imitation can later on turn to real “bhajan”.  Therefore God says -    

अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥

Anityamsukham lokmimam praapya bhajaswa maam ||

         ‘On acquiring this human body that is void of pleasures
and fleeting,  constantly he should do My “bhajan” (remembrance, devotion and worship).   

Narayan !  Narayan !  Narayan !

From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji