Bhagavad Geetha Chapter 12: Bhakthi Yoga — The Path of Devotion

Chapter 12: Bhakthi Yoga

The Path of Devotion

Part of the Bhagavad Geetha — Complete Commentary by Guruji M. Mohan Sundar

Arjuna asked, " There are many devotees, who are totally dedicated and do Bhajans, and also Meditation on any one of YOUR Form; and some other people contemplate on your Indestructible Blissful Formless aspect as the ultimate. Between these two groups, who is a better Yogi (Spiritual practitioner) ? ".

Lord Krushna said, " Whoever vests (focusses) his mind on any of MY forms (forms include HIS divine names and mantras pertaining to various manifest forms of the Supreme Being) with constant devotion to ME, such a person is a better Yogi (though he is devoted to the form, yet he is always aware that the Supreme Being is also formless) ".

Note: Lord Krushna emphasizes that in the process of spiritual practise of devotion and Meditation both the mind (Meditation) and the heart (feeling part i.e., devotion) go together, whereby it is easier for the practitioner to strike perfect balance between the mind (intellect) and the heart (feeling) to attain EVEN state or Equanimity, so that he is not carried away either by blind devotion (emotion) or by dry intellectual analysis of the Supreme Being. Devotional worship (heart: the feeling part) is as much helpful as Meditation (mind purification) in attaining Yoga. Yoga is a state where there is total emotional stability of the heart and also stability of the mind, whereby a Yogi is not swayed by happiness or sorrows, by being EVEN to both. Therefore, using any Name (Cosmic code) of the LORD (Naama Japa) in Meditation will achieve both, because the name has the form familiarly known to the practitioner and hence evoke feelings towards the Supreme Being (the form that is being Meditated upon), and at the same time all the layers of the mind is purified by the Cosmic Vibration or Power of the Divine Name. Therefore, it is easy to bring mind and heart towards each other in the Maanasika Naama Japa or Meditation using a favourite NAME of the Supreme Being as mantra. Perfect balance of heart (emotion) and mind (intellect) leads to wisdom which is the fundamental trait of the higher state of consciousness. Wisdom leads to EVEN state (Yoga). Therefore, it is necessary to purify intellect and emotion which are working under the influence of Karma (accumulated actions and reactions of present and past lives) and Runa (accumulated emotional debt to other souls) respectively. The one who contemplates Supreme Being as Formless is in a way concluding that the Supreme Being is incapable of taking any Divine form for Cosmic necessity, thereby the seeker is imposing his view on the Supreme Being. However, if he indulges in serving the nature in any possible way, serving the animals by not indulging in violence against them in any manner, helping or serving the fellow human beings in any manner, and then deeply contemplating on the nature of the Supreme Being as the cause for the entire creation and beyond everything, such a person too will reach the Supreme Being. Lord Krushna makes it very clear that, it is easier to realize HIM by worshipping HIS any one of the expressed Cosmic Form which is in accordance with Cosmic Principles than contemplating on the Formless nature of the Supreme Being. This is the reason Sanathani Hindus worship various expressed Cosmic Forms of the Supreme Being knowing that it ultimately leads to the Supreme Being both in Form and as well as Formless, but in the course of the spiritual practise they interact with the form of the Supreme Being as a Friend, Father, protector, giver and in any other way the devotee feels towards the form like offering food, fruits, flowers, etc., and then consuming the same as Prasada of the Lord. Therefore, this practise is commonly adopted by all Hindus in a regular way at their Homes and also at Temples. In this manner, it is easier to align with the Supreme Being as if associating with another living being. Therefore, Lord Krushna said that the devotees who worship God in Form are better Yogis than those who worship HIM as formless one. He who controls his mind, intellect and senses, and focusses on MY Unmanifest, Non-changing Absolute state (Formless State) and disposed- off towards the well-being of all living beings with Equanimity attitude (EVEN) towards everyone will also attain Yoga and he too will reach ME. He who is interested in focussing on MY Unmanifest Absolute State (formless state) will find it difficult so long as he is strongly attached to the senses and the body, to comprehend and realise MY THAT TRUE FORMLESS STATE.

Note: The Practitioners generally will not be able to comprehend THAT Omnipresent, Omnipotent, All-pervading Nature of the Supreme Being which has no beginning and ending, intellectually. Therefore, there are every chances of misleading themselves towards a dead end. Therefore, the practitioner (Saadhaka) should have a proper and comprehensive concept of the Formlessness of the Supreme Being ( True comprehension is a difficult process, not like blind comprehension as some people of some philosophies follow ). Whichever devotee (spiritual practitioner) surrenders all his actions to ME (with constant Meditation and Devotion to ME), I will quickly rescue such a devotee from the cycle of births and deaths (meaning taking birth again and again in this world to work-out karma, and in the process once again binding himself in the karma to continue in the cycle of births and deaths). Focus your mind and intellect on ME, the Supreme Being. If you do so, you will reach ME. There is no doubt about it.

Note: Lord Krushna is giving a simple principle of Saadhana (path) to Arjuna. Here HE is asking Arjuna to focus his mind and also intellect on HIM alone, not allowing both of them to deviate. Thereby, he will be able to realise and establish in the Supreme Being/ GOD. Further, HE assures that those who do so will definitely reach HIM, and there shall be no doubt about it. Arjuna if you cannot focus your mind on ME without deviation of attention, then adopt regular practise and you will be able to attain Yoga ( i.e. Union / Alignment with the Supreme Being) to reach ME. If you cannot follow the earlier said practise, then do your allotted and accepted actions in accordance with Dharma, totally surrendering such actions to ME. In this manner, by doing Karma Yoga you too will be able to reach ME. Even if you cannot do what I said earlier, then you renounce the fruit of your actions done through your mind and intellect, until you gain control over your mind and intellect. Notes: Read stanzas 10 and 11 together. Without knowing the secret of Saadhana (Right Spiritual Practises), if one does Saadhana it is not worth. On the other hand knowledge is better than that. Meditating upon MY Nature as Universal Being is better than the knowledge. Sacrificing the fruits of all actions is better than Meditation, because by sacrificing so one gets immediate peace. Whoever has got great compassion towards the animals and no hatred towards them, selflessly love everybody, compassionate to all without any attachment, given up ego, even minded towards happiness and sorrows, and who remains always happy within himself, and who has control over his mind and senses and fully focused on ME, and offer themselves to ME such devotees are closer to ME. He from whom, others do not get irritated and also himself do not get irritated through others, and one who is not disturbed by happiness or unhappiness, fear, and excitation such a devotee is closer to ME.

Note: Often Lord Krushna used the word " Closer to me " which he actually means being in alignment with HIM. And wherever HE uses the expression " The devotee will reach ME " means it is the end point HE is talking about, meaning that the Individual Soul/Consciousness finally disseminate into HIM forever and never to return, which is Moksha. Therefore, these two expressions of Lord Krushna should not be mistaken as one and the same. He who is devoid of desires, pure from inside, efficient, not partial, and frees himself from sorrows and does all his actions with a concept that his doership is not by him but by ME (totally surrendering his actions to the Supreme Being giving up his doership to HIM), sacrifice in every sense, he is closer to ME. He, who is not carried away by happiness, free from hatred, who do not grieve over anything, do not expect anything, and renounces the fruits of good and bad actions, and only devoted to ME, such a person is closer to ME. Notes: Here renouncing the bad action mean sincerely, heartfully, repenting for bad actions and seeking God's grace for the forgiving of wrong actions done, results in renouncement of bad actions. He, who has equanimity towards friend and enemy, adoration and condemnation, heat or cold, happiness or sorrows, and if he has equal outlook between these dualities and who is unattached and also taking praising and condemning equally, mentally well-balanced person, and wherever he is there if he is spreading love and detachment, such a stable minded person is closer to ME. Those who are deeply devoted and dedicated their mind to ME spending their time in knowing MY various plays and displays (leela), and follow the Dharma, such devotees are closer to ME. HERE ENDS THE BHAKTHI YOGA