Sri Krishna spoke about Bhakti Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita 5000 years ago. He said, “One who hates no creatures, who is friendly and compassionate to all, free from attachment and egotism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving (is dear to me).”

To become a Bhakta or a sattwic being, the first condition is to overcome the dual mentality. When one is able to see oneness in everything, when one is able to see the inner nature of all beings, that is the first step of Bhakti Yoga. The second and third are friendliness and compassion for all. The fourth is overcoming the selfish nature, the arrogance and rigidity of the ego, and developing the selfless nature.

Sri Rama described the forms of bhakti 10,000 years ago. Keep company of good people, avoid the company of negative and evil persons (Ramcharitamanas, Aranyakanda 34/4). He also explained the difference between a good and bad person and that is a pure person takes one’s heart and mind away on separation. It means that one identifies completely with the spiritual person and it is as if one is two bodies with one mind and spirit. The evil people are those who bring suffering and pain, who can influence one and make one weak because of negative thinking, behavior and attitudes (Ramacharitamanas, Balakanda 4/4).

Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of inner transformation. One has to have harmony within oneself by developing a sattwic nature.

Reference: Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati.

Aim Hrim Klim