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Originally Posted by NickSM11
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.
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It varies from school to school, but essentially its acts of Love towards God. It comes in many forms ... puja, bhajans (songs) pilgrimage, being common. So the devotee can do a lot of stuff, with love, in sort of the same way you love people, giving flowers, caring for the God's needs. all that.
In bhakti, generally the Gods are sort of thought of as people. like royalty, or loved ones. It's Hindu duality at it's best ... theism.
In my tradition it's not considered a separate yoga, but a stage, called kriya, which comes after service, and before yoga in progressive stages. So its a natural outcome of a balanced lifestyle, providing stability on the path, and a precursor to deeper meditation. One of the best times to meditate is right after a good deal of bhakti, like right after the puja at a powerful temple. Then that outward expression and energy can be turned inward.
One of the simplest ways to notice it is to go to a temple and stare at the eyes of the deity, and communicate through the eyes. This is called darshan, receiving darshan. Visualise a funnel in front of your chest, and taking all that energy into the heart. For Hindus, because of lifetimes of practice, it's just really natural. Small children will stand in front of a shrine and do just that.