8. Devotion (‘Bhakti’) is More Than Blind Faith (Bangkok, Banaras, Bihar)

8. Devotion (‘Bhakti’) is More Than Blind Faith

Paying for a VIP pass to get a special ‘darshan’ (view) in a temple and other similar practices where we contaminate the purity of introspection and devotion irk me. So, when I heard Sw. Niranjan at the Bihar School of Yoga give the following interpretation of ‘Bhakti’ (devotion), it gladdened my heart.




Bhakti is not about rituals. It is about identifying  a higher order value/person and then constantly remembering this ideal as one goes through the acts of a regular day. Just like a mother who while going through her multiple chores, is connected to what he child is doing, similarly, the highest form of Bhakti is to remain connected to a higher good (this need not be a person, but a value we hold up). 

This constant remembrance (‘smaran’) allows for us to have a relationship with this higher value and leads to living our life by these ideals resulting in increased peace and liberation from the emotional volleyball of day to day living. The example of ‘Shabri’ from the Ramayana is quoted as one good example of ‘smaran.’

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