Everyone says “Bhakti” for God is important, but is there a step-by-step way to actually practice it in your everyday life?
Turns out there is & here’s the guide you’ve always been looking for! Bhakti means to take part as a devotee in the loving devotion & playful service towards God.
Sri Ram himself gives us the 9-fold path of Bhakti, which is found in Goswami Tulsidas’ Ramacharitramanas, Aranya Kanda – moved by the old Shabari’s intense devotion to Ram, he gives her & us this wisdom.
1) Satsanga – association with holy/saintly, deliberately networking with spiritually advanced persons, keeping their company – attend sessions, satsangs, kirtans, discourses, pravachanas, live near saints, do pilgrimage where sacred company is found.
2) Katha Rati – listening to the stories & narratives of God, being actively & deeply absorbed in the sacred past times & glories
3) Guru Seva – humble, loving service at the lotus feet of the Guru, the spiritual teacher, who is the embodiment of the divine, following their instruction & supporting the spiritual institution
4) Guna Gana/Kirtana – Singing the glories and qualities of God, engaging in devotional songs, recitation of the name, and participating in group chanting session – this must be sincere, not performative
5) Mantra Japa – Repetition of God’s mantras with firm, unshakeable faith, repetition of his name using mala or beads.
6) Dama & Shila – Having overall self-control & good character, withdrawing from excessive worldly entanglements
7) Sama Mohi Maya – Seeing the entire world as a manifestation of the Divine, valuing each person
8) Santosha – Being content & satisfied with whatever comes naturally & avoiding the habit of finding faults with others
9) Saralta – Keeping things simple, sincere & free from deceit/cunning – being very transparent in conduct & state of dependence on the Divine
This is not the only model of Bhakti in our culture, we have the Srimad Bhagvatam, followed by Vaishnavas who worship Krishna & Vishnu, also following: ”Shravanam (hearing), Kirtanam (chanting), smaranam (remembering), pada-sevanam (serving feet), archanam (deity worship), vandanam (offering prayers), dasyam (servitude), sakhyam (friendship), atma-nivedam (surrender).”
Other margas like Pushti & Sri Sampradaya also explain concepts like 8 darshans (schedule of viewing God) & 6 limbs of Sharanagati.
All the said, you have to understand that Bhakti isn’t a formula with a manual book, you can’t crack it with structure & process – it has to flow from your heart, from within, ending in complete selfless love & service to God.
Only then will it culminate into its own result & return, which is the feeling of transcendental love, bliss & peace.
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