Way of Devotion is Ideal

Gyana or knowledge, Karma or action and Bhakti or devotion is the three aids for progress on the path of spirituality. A Gyani, a knowledgeable person, reaches near the goal but yet a little distance remains in between. A Karmi, person of action, reaches nearer the goal but even then a little gap remains. A Bhakta or person of devotion reaches right to the goal. The gyani repents ultimately that he wasted a long life on dry discourses of knowledge and could not fulfill their mission. Karmis, too, repent likewise. They think that they worked and reached near the goal but did not.

Bhaktas don’t repent – because their minds are always full of bliss they neither feel exalted nor humiliated. There is nothing else in their minds except bliss, the unbroken flow of happiness, ananda. Therefore, they remain unaffected by pain and pleasure. Only a devotee can say this, and not the intellectual or the one dexterous at work. However simple an intellectual may be vanity always remains concealed in the mind. Intellectuals think they are not ordinary people. They feel that they know what others do not know. These feelings exist whenever there is vanity, ego.

Pride causes downfall. Thus we see that an egoistic intellectual is prone to fall. Where there is the possibility of downfall the path may be good but it may not be safe. Karmis, too, feel proud when they think they have accomplished some work. Outwardly they may express that they have done nothing, but secretly they harbor desire for publicity. A dexterous worker falls prey to these weaknesses.

Bhaktas have nothing to lose. Since they realize purusha and consider Him as their own, they have nothing to lose or gain. Only devotees can say that He is the same for all. Whether He causes pleasure or pain makes no difference because He who caused pain, like the one who gives pleasure, is the manifestation of Narayana. But intellectuals think objectively. Therefore, they feel pleasure, pain or humiliation whenever confronted with different circumstances. Devotees have no malice against anyone.

What is pleasure? It is a mental projection, a mental propensity. Pain too is the same. One is positive and the other is negative. There is no difference between the tow. The mental balance remains the same. Pleasure and pain good reputation, and adverse criticism – all are equal. There is nothing to gain or lose from name and fame. Likewise there is nothing to gain or lose from a bad name. There is difference of opinion on merging with the supreme. But to Him, all are the same.

There is only one path, the path of devotion. The goal of this path is not to ask Parama Purusha for something or to get something from him, but to serve Him. The devotee feels happiness in His happiness.

The greater devotees, however, think in a different way. They follow the path of devotion and serve Parama Purusha only to give Him pleasure, to make Him happy and never aspire to derive pleasure or happiness for themselves. This is the highest plane of devotion, utterly selfless. Those who work for the happiness of Parama Purusha are called “gopa”. This is the supreme height of devotion. It is the only true path.