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

* Website:

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* Introduction to Sant Mat Spirituality and Meditation:

https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/sant-mat

* The Sant Mat Radhasoami Blog and Satsang E-Newsletter:

https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com 

On the Day of the Full Moon — Mystic Verses from the Sikh Scriptures: Adi Granth

On the Day of the Full Moon — Mystic Verses from the Sikh Scriptures: Adi Granth

 

"On the day of the full moon, the full moon fills the heavens. Its power is diffused through its gentle light. In the beginning, in the end, and in the middle, God remains firm and steady. Kabeer is immersed in the ocean of peace."


"The stars, the moon and the sun meditate on Him; the earth and the sky sing to Him. All the sources of creation, and all languages meditate on Him, forever and ever."


"The day of the full moon: God alone is Perfect; He is the All-powerful Cause of causes. The Lord is kind and compassionate to all beings and creatures; His Protecting Hand is over all. He is the Treasure of Excellence, the Lord of the Universe; through the Guru, He acts. God, the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts, is All-knowing, Unseen and Immaculately Pure. The Supreme Lord God, the Transcendent Lord, is the Knower of all ways and means. He is the Support of His Saints, with the Power to give Sanctuary. Twenty-four hours a day, I bow in reverence to Him."


"In the lamps of the sun and the moon, I see His Light. Dwelling among all is my ever-youthful Beloved. In His Mercy, He attuned my consciousness to the Lord. The True Guru has led me to understand the One Lord. The Gurmukh [disciple] knows the One Immaculate Lord. Subduing duality, one comes to realize the Word of the Shabad. The Command of the One Lord prevails throughout all the worlds. From the One, all have arisen."


"The sun and the moon are one and the same for them, as are household and wilderness. The karma [action] of their daily practice is to praise the Lord. They beg for the alms of the one and only Shabad. They remain awake and aware in spiritual wisdom and meditation, and the true way of life. They remain absorbed in the contemplation of God; they never leave it. Who can estimate their value? They remain lovingly absorbed in the Lord. The Lord unites them with Himself, dispelling their doubts. By Guru’s Grace, the supreme status is obtained. In the Guru’s service is reflection upon the Shabad. Subduing ego, practice pure actions. Chanting, meditation, austere self-discipline and the reading of the Puraanas [scriptures], says Nanak, are contained in surrender to the Unlimited Lord."


"By the Guru’s Grace, I have entered the home of celestial bliss. Darkness is dispelled, and the moon of wisdom has risen."


"The day and the sun shall pass away; the night and the moon shall pass away; the hundreds of thousands of stars shall disappear. He alone is permanent; Nanak speaks the Truth."


"Neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the planets, nor the seven continents, nor the oceans, nor food, nor the wind -- nothing is permanent. You alone, Lord, You alone."


-- Selections from the Sikh Scriptures: Adi Granth/Shri Guru Granth: English Translation of Siri Guru Granth Sahib: Singh Sahib Sant Singh Khalsa

 

Jap Ji Morning Prayer of Guru Nanak

 

Jap Ji -- Morning Prayer of Guru Nanak -- Also: The Quarrelsome Village

 

 

"Countless are the countries, earths and spheres.

Millions assign to Him ever new names, O Nanak." (Guru Nanak)

 

* Jap Ji -- Guru Nanak's Morning Prayer -- Sacred Text at YouTube,

Chant, Gurmuki with Line By Line English Translation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPJUjebWo8

 

* Jap Ji Beautiful Chant in Gurmukhi: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubp4MUcLZ0M

 

* Online Book: The Jap Ji - The Message of Guru Nanak,

By Kirpal Singh: This book has five major parts:

An extensive introduction which gives the reader a

broad background of spiritual teachings; an English

translation and commentary on the Jap Ji:

https://www.RuhaniSatsangUSA.org/jj/title.htm

 

 

 

 

 

The Creator of all is One (Ik Onkar -- "Ek Ong Kaar")

Truth is His Name (Sat Naam)

He is the Doer of everything (Kartaa Purakh)

He is Fearless, without anger (Nirbhao, Nirvair)

He is Undying, Unborn and Self-illumined (Akaal Moorat, Ajoonee, Saibhang)

This is revealed by the Sat Guru's Grace (Gurprasaad)

Meditate! (Jap!)

 

He was True in the beginning (Aad Sach)

He was True through all the ages (Jugaad Sach)

He is True even now (Haubhee Sach)

O Nanak, He shall ever be True (Naanak Hosee Bhee Sach)

 

-- Guru Nanak, Opening Verses of the Jap Ji

or Morning Prayer found in, "Peace Lagoon," an

anthology of the Sikh scriptures, 

published by G.T. International

 

There are millions of nether regions and skies above skies; 

Man has wandered endlessly in His search: 

The Vedas also say the same. 

The Muslim books speak of eighteen thousand universes, 

  but it is the same Power that sustains them all: 

If it could be accounted for, an account of it would have 

  been recorded. All attempts at description are in vain; 

O Nanak, admit His greatness; 

He alone knows Himself. (Stanza 22)

 

By communion with the Word, one becomes the abode of all virtues; 

By communion with the Word, one becomes a Sheikh, a Pir 

  and a true spiritual king; 

By communion with the Word, the spiritually blind 

  find their way to Realization: 

By communion with the Word, one crosses beyond 

  the Limitless Ocean of illusionary Matter; 

O Nanak, His devotees live in perpetual ecstasy, for the Word 

  washes away all sin and sorrow. (Stanza 11)

 

Who rejoice in the True One and live in perpetual bliss.

Sach Khand or the Realm of Truth is the seat of the Formless One. 

Here He creates all creations, rejoicing in creating. 

Here are many regions, heavenly systems and universes, 

To count which were to count the countless, 

Here, out of the Formless, 

The heavenly plateaux and all else come into form, 

All destined to move according to His Will. 

He who is blessed with this vision, rejoices in its contemplation. 

But, O Nanak, such is its beauty that to try to describe it 

  is to attempt the impossible. (from Stanza 37)

 

-- Guru Nanak, The Jap Ji - The Message of Guru Nanak, Kirpal Singh Translation

Guru Nanak Arrived at a Quarrelsome Village - Stories to Transform Your Life (Reposted)

Once, during the course of his travels, Guru Nanak arrived at a village where the people were a quarrelsome lot. He blessed them and asked them to prosper and live in that village forever. In the next village, where the people were peace-loving, Guru Nanak blessed them too but asked them to abandon the village and disperse. Mardana, his close disciple, puzzled by the guru’s strange blessings, asked him why he blessed the first village with prosperity though its people were unworthy of it, and asked the good people of the second village to disperse. Guru Nanak smiled and answered: "The quarrelsome will only spread unrest and friction wherever they go. So I asked them to remain where they were. But it is better for the peace-loving to disperse and take their good qualities with them so that all those who know them can learn the art of peaceful coexistence."

http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/Transformation/c_124_Stories_to_transform_your_life42004.asp

Seven Stages of Mystic Ascension to Heaven According to Sant Mat

Seven Stages of Mystic Ascension to Heaven According to Sant Mat

The Seven Stages of Mystic Ascension to Heaven Are:

1) Praise or Bhakti,

2) Prayer,

3) Manas japa (simran, praying without ceasing, repeating the name of God -- mantra, the first stage of meditation),

4) Manas dhyana (visualising the form of the Master, second stage of meditation),

5) Dristi sadhana (seeing Inner Light at the Third Eye Center, third stage of meditation),

6) Nada Sadhana (hearing the Inner Sounds --- Surat Shabd Yoga, fourth stage of meditation),

7) Reaching Kaivalya (Oneness with Soundlessness, the Nameless One, Formless Supreme Being, the Supreme State, The Ocean of Love -- the Goal)

Three Important Requirements: Praise, Prayer, Meditation

By Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj

Harmony of All Religions

There are three important requirements to be met in the practice of a person who pursues devotion to the Divine and seeks to attain liberation. First is praise; second is prayer; and third is meditation. We know that when we are indebted to someone, we should express our gratitude and appreciation. God has blessed us bountifully.

Although we are unable to repay God for his generous blessings, we can acknowledge this goodness by chanting praises about the Divine Being. When we exalt God through song, we declare the glories of the Divine. In doing this, we remember the grandeur of God. As a natural result, our faith in God increases. Unless we acknowledge someone's qualities, it is impossible to be faithful to that person.

Tulsi Das Sahab says:

"Without having the knowledge of the nature of God it is impossible to know him. And without understanding his qualities we can not have love for God. Without love we cannot have devotion and true faith. This is as unattainable as the mixing of water and oil [which is impossible]."

Therefore, in order to have devotion and faith in God it is necessary to know the grandeur of God. Once the glory of God is known, our heart is attracted to God. This is a great way to keep your heart in devotion to God. Thus, it is through praise that we extol the divine powers of God and draw our mind toward God.

After singing praises to God we, then, pray. Prayer is supplication with deep humility. In general, people have desires and make demands. Only the great sages do not have wants.

Kabir Sahab said:

"My desires are gone, as are my worries. My mind is filled with detachment. One who does not want anything is the king of kings."

Sant Tulsi Das says:

"People desire sons, wealth and fame in this world. Why do people desire that which taints the mind?"

Why do we desire these things? Sant Tulsi Das considers this:

"[Fleeting] pleasures come to us without asking, whether we are in heaven, hell, house, or forest. Why then do people work so hard to get these pleasures while they ignore the advice of the sages [to seek permanent joy?]"

Why do we invest so much effort in acquiring these worldly pleasures which come to us naturally? And let us consider as well that there is always pain involved in acquiring worldly objects, and that an even greater exertion is required to sustain them. And further, when these very same insidious sensory pleasures leave us, the distress is even more intense. This is why, the wise do not ask for things which are transitory. The truth is that our desires should only be for something which would eliminate the desire [for worldly pleasures] itself. In reality, the only thing we should be asking God for is to achieve union with the divine. After realizing the Divine, there is nothing left to be achieved. This is the end of all wants.

Prayer and invocation are not merely concerned with the mindless muttering of requests, but rather, prayer should be the voice of our heart. God always listens to the one who calls out with a pure heart.

In the Yajur Veda (chapter 20) it is said:

"Oh God, even as we unknowingly commit various sins, day and night, please forgive these offenses and ill desires. You are omnipresent, like the pervasive wind."

We have previously spoken about prayer in both Christianity and Islam [chapters of, The Harmony of All Religions]. Christians refer to this practice as prayer, and Muslims call it ibadat. We see that in all theistic religions there is a great emphasis on prayer.

Communion or Meditation Practice

The practices of praise and prayer-glorification and invocation-are followed by communion through the practices of contemplation and meditation. The Sanskrit word upasana literally means sitting near God. The saints distinguish four categories of upasana. The four basic practices are:

1) Manas japa,

2) Manas dhyana,

3) Dristi sadhana and

4) Nadanu-sandhana.

-- Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj,

Harmony of All Religions

Meditation Practice (Sadhana) According to Sant Mat Mysticism

There are several meditation practices in Sant Mat. There are several techniques described, the specific details of which are taught to students at the time of their deeksha (initiation) into the practice:

1) developing a daily routine, the habit of meditating at the same time or times each day;

2) proper posture with back straight so that one is truly focused at the Third Eye and remains alert and awake;

3) Manas Japa (Simran), a mantra repetition of a sacred word or words chanted mentally;

4) Manas Dhyan, the technique of mentally visualising a form of God or one's teacher;

5) Drshti Yoga (Yoga of inner Light), the technique of focusing upon an Infinitesimal Point. This Point will eventually blossom into inner Light or visions of Light. One gazes into the middle of the darkness or the Light one sees while in meditation. Think of the Infinitesimal Point as being like a laser pointer or cursor keeping one focused. One passes from scene to scene and vision to vision always looking toward the center;

6) Nada Sadhana (Yoga of inner Sound or Bhajan), the practice of inner spiritual hearing; and,

7) reaching the State of Kaivalya: Oneness with the Supreme Being in the Pure Conscious Realm. The ultimate goal is to merge into the upper level of Kaivalya known as the Ocean of Love and Compassion, the Ultimate Reality of God in the Nirguna or Formless State, also described with terms such as Radhaswami (Lord of the Soul), Anami (The Nameless One) and Anadi (The Soundless State beyond Light and Sound).

The poet-mystic Param Sant Tulsi Sahib describes the interior journey this way:

There is a Being who is Inaccessible (Agam), unfathomable (Alakh), and Nameless (Anami), and who has no locality, location, and is not confined to space.

Sant Tulsi Sahib also often uses the Sufi language of love or bhakti, describing this Timeless Spiritual State of Oneness as the Abode of the Beloved:

"On having found the teacher, I shall adopt his refuge, and I shall follow the path to my Beloved's Abode. The way to the Beloved lies within. My heart's desire, says Tulsi, is that my soul may meet the Beloved.

"The love-intoxicated soul is bubbling with joy. The darling of the Beloved has prepared and bedecked the bed and, imbued with the Beloved's bliss (ananda), has cast away all bondages. The soul prepared the Beloved's bed, and, lying there, enjoyed great bliss." (The Shabdavali of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib)

-- Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj,

Harmony of All Religions

Love is the Way of Spirituality --- Sant Mat Bhakti

Love is the Way of Spirituality --- Sant Mat Bhakti

By James Bean

When I first began learning about the Path of the Masters I was very into the technical, esoteric celestial mechanics of yugas, chakras, subtle bodies, and heavenly dimensions or inner regions. Over time however, I have been drawn, more and more with each passing day, to the Bhakti aspect of the Sants, the spirit of devotion, the Way of the lover and the Beloved.

Simran [the mantra--sacred names] repeated with love I find to be an entirely and radically different experience if chanted with love. One of my all-time favorite sentences from a Sant Mat Master is the reply given to the following question: How can one sit so still, repeat only holy names and think of God constantly? "By falling in love," Mataji answered serenely. "Because when one is truly in love nothing but the Beloved can enter one's mind. So the secret of Surat Shabd Yoga and of mysticism," she goaded, "is not necessarily practice and more practice, but love. To be so devoted to one's Lord that nothing can stand in the way – this and nothing else is the truth of Sant Mat". (quote from Yogani MataJi) Divine love and Surat Shabd Yoga are meant to be together in order that the soul may go to the right place within.

Sant Dariya Sahib: So long as the intense longing for the Beloved does not arise, and the heart is not filled with love, the spiritual goal cannot be attained.......Blessed is the eye which is permeated with love. Without love it is like a pebble or stone. Without love, there is no spiritual path. The path lives in love. With intensification of love, one comes in contact with the True Sound, and like a lotus in water, abides in its peace and bliss. When love and endearment are firmly ingrained, one attains the elixir of Nam, and enjoys its bliss. Being firmly entrenched in love and endearment, and being well-steeped in devotion, one obtains the true love. Without love one does not find the flow of the Sound Current.

I collect the poetry of the Sants, the bhajans or hymns of Mirabai, Namdev, Tukaram, Guru Nanak, Tulsi Sahib, Swami Ji, etc.... Below is my favorite poem of Kabir.

HOW could the love between Thee and me sever?
As the leaf of the lotus abides on the water:
so thou art my Lord, and I am Thy servant.
As the night-bird Chakor gazes all night at the moon:
so Thou art my Lord and I am Thy servant.
From the beginning until the ending of time,
there is love between Thee and me;
and how shall such love be extinguished?
Kabîr says: "As the river enters into the ocean,
so my heart touches Thee." (Songs of Kabir)