The outcome of bhakti is a complete transformation of the mental vrittis, patterns, performances, behaviours, responses, reactions, everything changes. The actual outcome of bhakti has been defined in clear terms by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. The first outcome of bhakti is adveshta sarvabhutanam, ‘do not see any difference between me and you.’ We may be physically different, I may be taller and slimmer, you may be shorter and fatter. That is physical. Adveshta means, ‘Do not see any difference between you and me.’
There is nothing bad about a person, there is nothing good about a person, we are all slaves of circumstances and situations. You are neither good nor bad, yet the way you respond to circumstances and situations defines the behaviour or nature of your action as either good or bad. You yourself are balanced people, although you do not realize it yet. Adveshta means to have equal vision. No rich, no poor, no big, no small, all human beings at the same level. That is the first outcome of bhakti, where you forget all the differences that exist between people.
The outcome of bhakti is unity with all, adveshta. Sri Krishna mentions this in the chapter of bhakti yoga in the Bhagavad Gita. He mentions the nature, the outcome and the qualification of a person who has purified himself internally. The first qualification is adveshta sarvabhutanam, one who does not differentiate between people. Such a beautiful statement of bhakti. We differentiate and say, ‘I am devotee to my God, or I am devotee of my Guru.’ There is differentiation, ‘I am the senior one, I am the better one; you are an ignorant one, I know more than you.’ That is ego, that is not bhakti, which is purity of mind or sentiments. The whole process of bhakti leads to the experience of oneness with everyone. Duality is transcended and unity is experienced.
The second outcome is maitri, a positive connection that develops with everyone. You call it friendship, but we call it positive connection because we do not believe in friendship. There was a time when people used to say, ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’ Now even in need, nobody is there to help you. There are no friends anymore, and everybody has become an independent unit. Maitri is a positive connection with everyone, known in English as friendship. This friendship is for the upliftment of people, not for personal gratification and that has to be understood.
The third outcome is compassion – adveshta sarvabhutanam, maitraha karunaha eva cha. Compassion indicates a soft heart, compassion indicates the ability to understand the need and the suffering of people, and working to help them fulfil their need or overcome suffering.
Nirmama, being without the feeling of ‘mine-ness’, and nirahamkaraha, without ego, living a humble, simple and innocent life, without arrogance, that is bhakti. Samadukhasukha, one who is equipoised in pain and pleasure, when pain does not affect and pleasure does not affect, and there is equanimity in all situations and circumstances. Kshami is the ability to forgive and another outcome of bhakti.
If we look at bhakti yoga in this manner, it is transformation of dark into light. It allows us to move into the sattwa dimension, and that makes us aware of the spiritual nature of life. This is the real bhakti yoga. Religious people speak of bhakti as adoring and worshipping the divine, putting flowers and waving incense and light. These are religious rituals, but bhakti is an expression of pure intention and sentiment. Bhakti is an expression of purity in action. Bhakti is the behaviour which is connected not to the self, but is selfless.
Therefore, bhakti can be construed as a lifestyle. What are the practices? Mantra and kirtan. You do your mantra sadhana at night, play kirtans while you are working, cleaning the home, cooking food, changing clothes or taking a shower. The vibrations of the mantras of the kirtan will be there, resounding in your brain, in your mind, and that will create a change, a subtle change in your personality.
22 November 2024, Third Munger Yoga Symposium