Bhakti Yoga
Since there is a wide range of imaginations and perceptions about Yoga, we would like to give you a brief analysis about the original meaning of Yoga
The word Yoga is based on "yuj" (the root of the word) and means "to link with" or "to unite". What is to be linked or united? The atma and the Paramatma-the soul and the Supreme soul or Supersoul. This definition is well known and generally accepted but there is one major misconception about it:
many inexperienced yogis and jnanis think that "unite with" is to be equated with "to merge with". Uniting, however, does not mean that the soul loses its individuality, but it means that the soul acts in accordance with the Supersoul. Each soul is the servant of the Supersoul-Krishna (God).
There are different yoga systems which can help us to reach this goal. The reason for the difference between the systems is that they are meant for particular ages and persons (in this age of Kali yuga the practise of Bhakti Yoga is advised). Nevertheless they all have one goal in common: to become free from material bondage and to spiritualize the consciousness.
People who are unfamiliar with the Vedic tradition of yoga see it as an exercise program or a way to relieve stress. Yoga does help in this way, but its main purpose is to help one regain their spiritual concsiousness and link again with God.
BHAKTI-YOGA
This process teaches one how to attain the Supreme through loving devotional service. In this way the goal of ALL the other yoga processes is easily achieved. Although it is the most direct and straight forward process to achieve the Supreme, it is the only one where the practitioner can be married. Having a Krsna conscious child is bhakti-yoga. All other processes strictly demand complete celibacy, are comparatively mechanical and offer only artificial sense control. One example is of Visvamitra Muni- he was mediatiting and became agitated by the ankle bells of the heavenly society girl, Menaka. He was no longer able to control his senses and fell down with her.
By chanting the Holy Names of the Lord, one is engaging in bhakti yoga and is able to achieve all perfection. Hari das Thakur, one of Lord Caitanya's intimate associates chanted 300,000 names of the Lord a day. He was approached by a prostitute who was Maya incarnate but he did not succumb to her advances and advised her to chant. The power of the Holy Name was that she gave up prostitution, accepted Hari das as her spiritual master, and chanted 300,000 names of the Lord a day for the rest of her life.
There are two stages of Bhakti- yoga. Vaidhi bhakti is the beginning stage where rules and regulations help the devotee get rid of their material attachments and begin practicing devotional service. Raganuga bhakti is the spontaneous unalloyed level of devotional service. Only pure devotees are in this stage and one must not imitate them.
Srila Rupa Goswami a great saint who we follow gave us the following definition of BHAKTI in a verse from his book Bhakti Rasamarta Sindhu (1.1.11), he states,
anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama
"The cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the pleasure of Sri Krsna, or in other words the uninterrupted flow of service to Sri Krsna, performed through all endeavours of the body, mind and speech, and through the expression of various spiritual sentiments (bhavas), which is not covered by jnana (knowledge aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity), and which is devoid of all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Sri Krsna, is called uttama-bhakti, pure devotional service."
The word Yoga is based on "yuj" (the root of the word) and means "to link with" or "to unite". What is to be linked or united? The atma and the Paramatma-the soul and the Supreme soul or Supersoul. This definition is well known and generally accepted but there is one major misconception about it:
many inexperienced yogis and jnanis think that "unite with" is to be equated with "to merge with". Uniting, however, does not mean that the soul loses its individuality, but it means that the soul acts in accordance with the Supersoul. Each soul is the servant of the Supersoul-Krishna (God).
There are different yoga systems which can help us to reach this goal. The reason for the difference between the systems is that they are meant for particular ages and persons (in this age of Kali yuga the practise of Bhakti Yoga is advised). Nevertheless they all have one goal in common: to become free from material bondage and to spiritualize the consciousness.
People who are unfamiliar with the Vedic tradition of yoga see it as an exercise program or a way to relieve stress. Yoga does help in this way, but its main purpose is to help one regain their spiritual concsiousness and link again with God.
BHAKTI-YOGA
This process teaches one how to attain the Supreme through loving devotional service. In this way the goal of ALL the other yoga processes is easily achieved. Although it is the most direct and straight forward process to achieve the Supreme, it is the only one where the practitioner can be married. Having a Krsna conscious child is bhakti-yoga. All other processes strictly demand complete celibacy, are comparatively mechanical and offer only artificial sense control. One example is of Visvamitra Muni- he was mediatiting and became agitated by the ankle bells of the heavenly society girl, Menaka. He was no longer able to control his senses and fell down with her.
By chanting the Holy Names of the Lord, one is engaging in bhakti yoga and is able to achieve all perfection. Hari das Thakur, one of Lord Caitanya's intimate associates chanted 300,000 names of the Lord a day. He was approached by a prostitute who was Maya incarnate but he did not succumb to her advances and advised her to chant. The power of the Holy Name was that she gave up prostitution, accepted Hari das as her spiritual master, and chanted 300,000 names of the Lord a day for the rest of her life.
There are two stages of Bhakti- yoga. Vaidhi bhakti is the beginning stage where rules and regulations help the devotee get rid of their material attachments and begin practicing devotional service. Raganuga bhakti is the spontaneous unalloyed level of devotional service. Only pure devotees are in this stage and one must not imitate them.
Srila Rupa Goswami a great saint who we follow gave us the following definition of BHAKTI in a verse from his book Bhakti Rasamarta Sindhu (1.1.11), he states,
anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama
"The cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the pleasure of Sri Krsna, or in other words the uninterrupted flow of service to Sri Krsna, performed through all endeavours of the body, mind and speech, and through the expression of various spiritual sentiments (bhavas), which is not covered by jnana (knowledge aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity), and which is devoid of all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Sri Krsna, is called uttama-bhakti, pure devotional service."