PODCAST: The Path (Yoga) of Love (Bhakti), Part 1 -- Spiritual Awakening Radio

PODCAST: The Path (Yoga) of Love (Bhakti), Part 1 -- Spiritual Awakening Radio

PODCAST: The Path (Yoga) of Love (Bhakti), Part 1 -- Spiritual Awakening Radio with James Bean -- Listen @ Youtube:

https://youtu.be/VAqU67zV5lM

Bhakti is a Sanskrit word for love and devotion, and love is the quintessential truth of all religion, spirituality and mysticism. In the New Testament Saint Paul said that "love is the most excellent way." The Bhagavad Gita and the other world scriptures say the same thing. The mystic-lovers of history have taught that "God is an infinite Ocean of Love and each soul is a drop from that Ocean." By approaching simran (mantra, a spiritual exercise of repeating God's Name or Names), prayer, the singing of hymns, or meditation with an attitude of love and devotion (prem and bhakti), we elevate our consciousness. The practice of love brings us into harmony with the Supreme Being, our own true nature, and with all souls in creation.

Bhakti is the Path of Love; it is heart-centered, focused on the cultivation of love between the soul and the Oversoul, between lover and the Beloved. India's Nirguna Bhakti Sants (Saints) are madly in love with the Supreme Being, the Ocean of Love. Their relationship with the Supreme Being is that of Divine romance.

This is a translation of a hymn (shabd) by the 19th century mystic Tulsi Sahib titled, "Shabd surat jin ki mili": 

"Whose soul is attached to the Word, revels

ever in cosmic flight;

Revels ever in cosmic flight, and realizing the

Lord, plays with Him.

The mystery of the Inaccessible and the secret

of the scriptures he unravels:

He reaches his Home within and its Essence

he comes to know;

In the lotus feet of the Beloved he sees

his true destination.

The happily married woman rejoices with her

Spouse every moment, O Tulsi,

For her soul is attached to the Word, and

revels ever in cosmic flight."

The compositions of Tulsi Sahib are bhakti (devotional) in tone, and at the same time allude to the mystical experiences of the soul achieving cosmic flight by becoming attached to the Word -- hearing the Celestial Music of the Spheres during meditation. Through the Divine Word the mystery of the Inaccessible Plane (called by mystics "Agam Lok") is made accessible. Shri Tulsi described his experience of the Beloved Lord as a marriage consummated in mystical union. This merger of lover and Beloved is the final destination of lovers. Dadu, a Master in the Guru Kabir lineage said of this oneness: 

"The lover is converted into the Beloved. 

That indeed is called true love.

Forgetting his own ego, he remains

absorbed in the One."

In their spiritual hymns of love and devotion (prem and bhakti) mystic-devotees sing of the power that the Spirit of Love has to transport souls back to the original Home of all souls -- the Ocean of Love and Compassion (Anurag Sagar). By approaching spiritual practice with love, we will be elevated in spirit to places beyond our wildest dreams! And for those who are skeptical of their own ability to experience the Way of the Saints, Swami Ji Maharaj said in one of his hymns: 

"It does not matter if your bhakti is imperfect.

Perform bhakti! Radhasoami [the Lord of the Soul]

graciously declares that you should perform bhakti

in whichever way you can. Fear not. He will grant

you the Treasure of Love. You will be a recipient

of the Gift of Love." 

(Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Vol. II, Agra)

God is the Ocean of Love and All-Consciousness.

In Divine Light and Sound, Namaste', Gnosis, Peace, Jai Guru, Jai Sat Naam, Bandagi Saheb, Satya Raam, Radhasoami, 

James

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Prayers from the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry of Soamiji Maharaj, Prayer One

Prayers from the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry of Soamiji Maharaj, Prayer One

 

 

 

O Radhasoami! I beseech Thee with folded hands to hear my prayer.

(1)

Thou art Sat Purush and Sat Guru, the Munificent Lord. Thou art the parent of all the Jivas [Souls].

 (2)

Be gracious enough to make me Thy own, and extricate me from the snares of Kal [negative power].

 (3)

Sat Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dwapar Yuga have all passed. None knew about the path of Shabd.

 (4)

 In Kali Yuga, the Soami (Lord) has taken pity on Jivas, and has openly given out the secrets of Shabd.

 (5)

He has incarnated Himself here for effecting liberation of Jivas. He takes them across the ocean of worldly existence.

 (6)

Releasing me from the thraldom of the three worlds, He has granted me abode in the fourth Pad (beyond Pind, And, and Brahmand). Now I realize the status of Sat Nam and Sat Guru.

 (7)

The first stage is illumined by the Jyoti (flame). The second stage is Gagan. Beyond is the third stage of Daswan Dwar where is visible the moon.

 (8)

Beyond Trikuti, Sunn and Maha-sunn, is the throne with the umbrella of the Sovereign in the region of white resplendent light and incessant Anhad Shabd. It is to this Sovereign that I address my prayer.

 (9-10)

May I be the recipient of happiness here and hereafter. O Lord! Grant me abode in Thy Holy Feet.

 (11)


-- BACHAN 7
BINTI AND PRARTHNA (PRAYER)
AT THE HOLY FEET OF
PARAM PURUSH PURAN DHANI
RADHASOAMI
SHABD 1:
https://archive.org/details/SarBachan/page/n23/mode/2up

To look up and become acquainted with the mystic terms of the Sar Bachan, see the Glossary of the Radhasoami Faith -- PDF File: 

 https://archive.org/details/GlossaryOfTheRadhasoamiFaith/page/n1/mode/2up

Mystic Verses and Music of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans

Look Not in the Five Directions. Look Instead Ahead in the Centre of the Sixth! Mystic Verses of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans Ji Maharaj

Discard looking in any of the five directions -- downwards, upwards, to the right, left and rear

And still your sight at a point in the centre of the sixth direction (i.e. in the front).

Fly ahead in the inner firmament [sky] like a bird through the Radiant Point that appears (as a result of your focused gaze).

Swim upstream from there like a fish, clasping the myriads of Sounds that are perceived (in that Light).

Thus, assuming styles of both the bird as well as the fish, travel on and on, O Mind, an endearing friend that you are!

The mind thus grows indifferent (towards worldly objects) and the soul ascends to perceive the Primordial Udgitha Sound

Also known as Sfoṭa, Om, Sat Dhvani, Praṇava, Unbroken/Incessant Sound, etc...

Which is reverberating very loudly, hidden in the Domain of Sound.

Move ahead from one Sound to another till you catch the Quintessential, True Praṇava Sound.

Holding onto this Unique Om or Sat Naam Sound, swim across the ocean of existence.

-- Quoted in the E Book, Yoga of Inner Light and Sound, by Swami Achyutanand Baba:

https://spiritualawakeningradio.com/Yoga_Of_Inner_Light_And_Sound_.pdf

Namami Amit Gyan, Hymn Number 14 from the Padavali of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans

To Listen, GO TO:  

https://archive.org/details/MadhuNamamiAmitGyan      

(And Click the Play Button)

In Praise of the Master

Sung by Madhulata Arya

Excerpts of Some Verses from This Hymn in English

I bow again and again to the embodiment of unending devotion, kindliness,

The store-house of Divine knowledge beyond worldly wisdom;

And the treasure-house of splendid thoughts,

Extremely forgiving, forbearing, profound in knowledge,

And maintaining the equipoise of mind during conflict and confusion,

The very life-force of devotees, giving them endless sympathy,

I bow to the Satguru, the giver knowledge and magnificent Lord;

I bow to him, I bow to him, I bow to him, I bow to him;

Eliminating worldly catastrophes, turmoil, and the maze of mundane deeds;

Shattering all earthly aspirations and disseminating deep knowledge,

He is the one who helps see the inner Light Divine,

Extremely accommodating and indifferent to sensualities,

Free from mental abnormalities and enjoying absolute peace;

I bow again and again to the Quintessential One, the Lord,

Converting disciples to His nature,

Extracting the poison of sensualities from the mind;

Satguru is the treasure house of highest bliss, granting contentment and peace,

Bestowing all the virtues and destroying the great fears and delusions,

As he assumes the magnetic human personality;

I bow to Satguru, the very embodiment of truth and righteousness,

I salute You, O beneficent Satguru (True Guru), the fount of unfathomable wisdom,

vast treasure of intelligence; to know the Unknowable you impart needed perfection.

 

The life-breath of devotees, boundless ocean abounding in compassion.

 

To the True Guru adored by all, I bow down,

bow down, bow down, bow down, to thee I bow down.

 

Giver of total peace, most venerable,

truly helpful in inner ascension.

 

I prostrate to the transforming Lord-Satguru,

bow down, bow down, bow down, to thee I bow down. 

 

You infuse perfect tranquillity and all noble virtues,

mastering a magnetic persona; you drive away fears bred by infatuation.

 

The family of senses is like snakes with venom lethal,

you, O True Guru, render them poison less like a mighty falcon.

 

For the thick dark night of illusion,

the Satguru's words are like powerful beams of the Sun.

 

I bow down, says Mehi, to the Perfect Guru,

bow down, bow down, bow down, to thee I bow down.

The Purpose of This Human Form -- Verses of Sant Dadu Dayal, the Compassionate Mystic

The Purpose of This Human Form -- Verses of Sant Dadu Dayal, the Compassionate Mystic

One dedicated to the immutable

is established in the immutable,

While one in pursuit of the transient

is lost in the transient.

Give up all things transient, says Dadu,

And be absorbed in the immutable.

What is the use of living for ten million years?

What is to be gained by being immortal?

Without the Nectar of love and devotion to God,

What worth is there in life, O Dadu? 

Eaten by rust day by day,

iron is slowly reduced to dust.

Without God – the philosopher's stone – life,

like iron, is simply lost somewhere, says Dadu. 

Through contact with the philospher's stone,

iron transforms its nature;

Through contact with one’s Beloved,

one is likewise converted into gold, says Dadu. 

Kicking aside the diamond,

one picks up a pebble.

Casting aside the Supreme Lord,

one is engrossed in worldly life. 

All are buying waste materials;

no one takes the diamond.

A jeweller will take the diamond

and will pay whatever price is asked. 

One is left with remorse that his life

could not be concentrated on its proper goal

This body is simply wasted

if not utilized in the service of God. 

Time was passes in useless rambling;

nothing was achieved.

Without devotion to the Lord

one repents, says Dadu. 

So priceless is this birth, O friend,

That by assuming it, the Supreme Lord can be met.

The soul herein drinks the Nectar of love

And enjoys the bliss of eternal union.

The soul comes to be absorbed in God and regains

The heritage of immortal treasure in its entirety.

She touches and sees the Lord directly;

On meeting the Supreme Lord, she merges in Him.

Such a birth cannot be obtained again, O friend.

Why do you waste this jewel? says Dadu.