Talk:Excessive Emotionalism
Jnānayoga requires us to control our senses and mind, so that we can meditate on Bhagavān. Karmayoga and Dhyānayoga too advocate controlling our emotions and thoughts so that we do not perform bad Karma or fall from a meditative state. In contrast, Bhaktiyoga does not require us to control or subdue our emotions. Rather, it asks us to direct all of these emotions towards Bhagavān, and build a deep, long-lasting and a meaningful relationship with him. The logic of Bhaktiyoga is that Bhagavān is a great Purifier, and any proximity to Him will ‘infect’ us with his qualities and elevate us. In fact, even emotions like anger and hatred towards Bhagavān are better than having no emotion towards Him, and better than having no relationship with Him. Nevertheless, having too much of positive emotions (e.g. thinking of Bhagavān as one’s child) as well as negative emotions (e.g. anger) can harm us, and also impair our worldly relationships. A Bhakta can, due to excessive emotionalism, easily lose sight of the reality of life around him, in the process hurting himself and also his dependents.