The joy of bhakti
 

- making garlands,
- singing or listening to heartfelt bhajans,
- staring to receive darshan from the eyes of your ishta,
- seeing the winks and tears,
- watching fellow devotees dressed in colorful saris, handsome dhotis and kurtas, like a fields of colourful wildflowers
- japa to the point of no return
- watching the sacred substances poured on favorite murthis
- priests chanting Sri Rudram rhythmic unison
- the fire in the homa flashing, burning the desires away
- prostrating, giving the ego to His energy
- circumbulating in silence
- hands raised in namaskaram
- taking the flame to the eyes
- putting on the cooling substances of tilak

What I really love about bhakti is that it is 'all action and no talk', and quite the opposite of the draining 'all talk and no action'

What lovely post. The aspect of bhakti I love is the simple, loving connection with the divine. When the mind is turned to the divine with love or any activity is recognised as being an aspect of the divine, the connection is wonderful.

I chose bhakti.
Or rather the Beloved has chosen me.

A person may chose to seek or dwell in nothingness...to
experience the primordial sea before creation; before consciousness.
But, that is not my choice now.

I want to taste the sugar, not be the sugar, as Ramakrishna said.
Yet, either path is valid.
This Path is personal and impersonal...I had no choice, however...it
was made more than personal, more personal and closer than most can imagine.

:notworthy:

its all about following the bliss of the self. drinking it as often as possible. moving it through the body. let it unravel all the gunk. until ones presence becomes that.

Blaize the bhakti trail ! Jay....
Repeat the ishta mantra and see all as the Lila of the universal consciousness !

The best!

- trying to recall past the 5th verse of the Shiva Tandava Stotram and forgetting all the words after that, so I just 'go with it' anyway.

- when somebody just randomly yells out "Hara Hara Mahadev" in the middle of a serious bhajan.

- seeing an image/picture of Lord Shiva smiling more than it initially appears to.

- somebody producing a damaru out of nowhere.

- just going into trance and not caring what happens after that.

- Japa to the point of 'what was I chanting again?'

- Giving my whole heart and soul over to Shiva with a 'take me, make me, break me'

- seeing all the tears flow through my own.

- Listening to priests chant the Namakam and Chamakam in unison.

- wearing the Shiva Kavacham.

Om Namah Shivaya

I found today talking to God...I don't care about bliss...(that was actually surprising to me).
I don't care about feeling 'good' or even great.
I just want to be in love with 'Him'.
That's it....for me...that is it.
:smile:

Namaste.

Wanting to love God equates to actually loving Him and if/when it occurs, the bliss and 'feeling good' happens all by itself.

As for 'tasting sugar'...give me the raw, unrefined stuff any day. :D

Om Namah Shivaya

Oh primal Lord, most omnipresent,
Within the Lotus of my dreams,
Your eyes bestow eternal wisdom,
And through Your hair, the moonlight beams.

May I aspire to reach that peak,
Though sevenfold it's steps may be,
Where I'll desire no more to seek,
A 'Thee in All' and "All in Thee' - 'The Necromancer' 1981

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Hello everyone. Can someone please tell me in a concise way what Bhakti Yoga really is?

I've read that it is basically loving devotion to God and that it is considered the fastest way to experience the divine in Hinduism, but how is this loving devotion practiced exactly?

Thanks.