BHAKTI OF GOD CONSCIOUSNESS WITH ATTRIBUTES ( સગુણ) IS EASIER.

People whose mind is attracted to God consiousness without attributes (નિર્ગુણ) have more difficulty to experience God consciousness. It is very difficult to be attached to God consciousness without attributes. For this reason Bhakti of God consciousness with attributes is more favorable. Mind and its other senses (like intellect, ego etc,) cannot grasp the aspect of God consciousness without attributes easily. For this reason Bhakti of God consciousness with attributes is more favorable and we need to express the side of consciousness with attributes in our Sadhana. Knowledge is expressed out of Bhakti and presence of knowledge leads to expression of Yog and out of all these there is possibility of expression of art of performing work. This Bhava may have resulted in the tradition of idolatry in the past. When there is heartfelt affection to Shri Bhagwan with love and devotion, we develop personal relationship with Shri Bhagwan. Only then we develop such contemplation where there is presence of deep absorption, concentration, oneness, love and happiness in the Bhava of Sadhana. It is exremely difficult to develop such deep absorption (Lagani) in the mind, intellect, prana, chitta and ego without the support of consciousness with attributes. Expression of consciousness with attributes in the aim of the path of progress in life, means its Bhava and its expression as concentration, focus, continuity and its expansion. It is like getting help from a teacher to progress in education. In spirituality, getting help from the person who knows and has experience with it is (સાકાર)  Shri Sadguru. There is a possibility that mind, intellect, etc, may accept such tool with attributes with easiness. 

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan Yog, Edition 1,

Part 2, Pages 85 - 86.

BHAKTI — (2)

 There is no craze, but there is custom of repeating words or lines in Bhakti. We do not get entangled in it since we also have awakened sense of equality, balanced mind and sense of discretion. Bhakti has sportsmanship, martyrdom, velour of a brave person and courage of a warrior. Bhakt (devotee) never gets defeated by anything. He never runs away from anything. He accepts everything as blessings-prasadi of Prabhu with the Bhava of love, devotion and knowledge. He uses it for his life's development for the love of God, with conscious awareness. 

Bhakti is not sentimentalism. Just as Bhakti is an instrument to express Jiva-consciousness, it also takes higher and higher forms to achieve higher and higher stages. There is not just one kind of Bhakti. It changes in its newer forms according to changing condition. For that reason, it is not possible to evaluate Bhakti appropriately without experiencing the level of Bhakti.

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan Yog,  Edition 1,

Part 2, Page 83.

BHAKTI — (1)

 Bhakti demands our complete offering of every thing with knowledge and with all Bhavas. Bhakti is not the work for the weak person. It is the work for the brave person. He who follows Bhakti has mountains of difficulties on his head. Even-though he stays humblest of the humble, he maintains his stand with  firmness. 

One who wants to follow the path of Bhakti with heartfelt sincerity, has to be ready for all kind of difficulties. The Jiva who follows the path of Bhakti should never ignore anyone, so there is no question of hating anyone. When Bhakti takes hold, intellect becomes subtle. Just as when spring arrives there is rejuvenation of all trees and plants and there is instillation of energy in them, when Bhakti takes hold, it has the effect on mind, intellect, chitta, prana, ego and subtle elements; mind becomes enchanted and captivated. Intellect has doubts, arguments and thoughts in all directions. It doubts everything and keeps making all kind of plans. If someone talks about some idea, intellect starts thinking in all directions. When touched by Bhakti, intellect becomes wiser, becomes less insistence from its previous ways and it settles down. Chitta also changes when doused with the colors of Bhakti. Sanskaras are not accepted as it is but are accepted after going through the Bhavna of Bhakti. So effects of Karma  are not felt according to the field of Karma but it has now the Bhavna of Bhakti. This means, stoppage of physical Karma bondages. This will also change expectations, desires, covetousness, vasanas of Prana and qualities of Prakruti. Ego will not result in its expression but will be directed and inspired by Satwik Bhavna. So element of Bhakti  expresses good factual results within us. 

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan Yog, Edition 1,

Part 2, Pages 82 -83.

DEFINITION OF BHAKTI AND ITS GOOD RESULTS

 When there is no expression of Bhavna and Bhakti in whatever we do, Bhavna is not solidified because of its absence. Only when Love-Bhakti is expressed with knowledge, we can really understand the mind with ease and concentration. Just as there is need of glue to stick something, Bhakti is needed to engage the mind in Bhagwan. Bhakti does not mean some kind of craze or a fad. Bhakti encourages knowledge. When there is expression of Bhakti, we get appropriate understanding of many aspects of our lives. Our intellect becomes subtle and we become aware of the need to cleanse many aspects of body and mind. We develop complete understanding of our apprppriate and inappropriate Bhavnas and Vtutties. Our sense of discretion becomes subtle of the subtlest. We observe ourselves more and more with Samata(equality) and gain understanding about us. We experience immense strength of determination and firmness within us because of the expression of Bhakti. This means we can do anything if there is expression of Love-Bhakti within us. 

One who has Bhakti can never be weak and worthless. No one can challenge his determination, bravery, patience and tolerance. Devotee is never defeated. He may seem to be falling behind from the view point of progress, but he wake up immediately from such condition. It is not that the Jiva who has living awareness of his goal in life never makes mistakes; he understands and gains knowledge from his mistakes, and receives higher knowledge and understanding from his mistakes. Know that, there is beginning of expression of Bhakti, if you receive object-lessons and inspiration from whatever you do. One who has developed Bhakti has no animosity or hatred towards anyone. He does not ignore anyone. He sees everyone within him. Of course, this is very advanced stage. Even then, such Bhavna begins to develop within him.

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan Yog, Edition 1,

Part 2, Pages 81 - 82.