Bhakti (Spiritual Love), Not Asceticism, According to Sant Ravidas

 

Bhakti (Spiritual Love), Not Asceticism, According to Sant Ravidas

Raidās [Sant Ravidas] also makes it clear that bhakti is not about asceticism or the pride-evoking practice of yoga but about losing oneself in the love of God [bhakti]. He sings,

"Bhakti is not like this, my brother. Whatever is done without the

name of Rām, is all called delusion.

Bhakti is not suppression of the senses, not speaking of wisdom,

not digging a cave in the forest. Not some joke, not the snares

of desire. This is not bhakti.

Bhakti is not binding the senses, not practicing yoga, not eating

less—all these practices are called karma.

Bhakti is not reducing the sleep, not practicing renunciation.

These practices are not bhakti; they are the pride of the

Vedas.59" 

Later in the poem Raidās states that bhakti happens when one loses the self in Rām*; all else is merely senseless pride and delusion.

-- A Genealogy of Devotion, Bhakti, Tantra, Yoga, and Sufism in North India, by Patton E. Burchett

* Ram, an early Sant name of the Formless Supreme Being (and not referring to any other "Ram" of Hindu mythology) - can be understood to be the true God beyond gods, or God above gods; 

Quotes from Many Different Sources on the Spiritual Journey -- Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast

Quotes from Many Different Sources on the Spiritual Journey -- Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast

Selected Quotes from Many Different Spiritual Masters, Mystics, Scriptures, Gnostic Gospels and Spiritual Classics

For the Sants of the East, all names of the One God represent the Nameless, Formless (Nirguna) God of Love and Compassion Who is Timeless (Akal), Spirit, and Eternal Truth (Sat).

The True Spirit of Simran Practice is Bhakti

“Simran” is a term which means “Remembrance”, the spiritual practice of remembering or being mindful of God by repeating his Name. Devotees sing or chant various names for God. Higher spiritually, and more “within” is the practice of “manas jap”, the mental repetition of God’s name or names “with the tongue of thought” — in other words, chanting names of God within one’s mind. The Sants have always placed much greater emphasis upon mental Simran over vocal chant.

There is however, more to Simran than the repeating of sacred names. Simran must be approached with the right attitude, the right spirit, for one’s intent determines how successful the practice will be, and what effect it will have upon one’s consciousness. Simran has never been intended to be a dry or lifeless mantra practice. The path of the Sants is a Bhakti path, a path of love and devotion for the Supreme Being. Thus, the true Masters have always instructed their students to repeat God’s Name with love and devotion, as a lover calling out to one’s Beloved, the Lord of Love.

Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast: Quotes from Many Different Sources on the Spiritual Journey - Listen, Download, Subscribe @ the Podcast Website:

https://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.libsyn.com

Direct Download URL:   

https://traffic.libsyn.com/spiritualawakeningradio/Quotes_from_Many_Different_Sant_Mat_Masters_on_the_Spiritual_Journey.mp3

@ Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-awakening-radio/id1477577384

@ Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5kqOaSDrj630h5ou65JSjE

& @ Wherever You Subscribe and Follow Podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Audible, Stitcher, PodBean, Overcast, Jio Saavan, i Heart Radio, Podcast Addict, Gaana, CastBox, etc...): 

https://linktr.ee/SpiritualAwakeningRadio

In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhaswami,

James Bean

Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts

https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com