Talk:Excessive Emotionalism

By Vishal Agarwal

Jnānayog requires us to control our senses and mind so that we can meditate on Bhagavān. Karmyog and Dhyānayog too advocate controlling our emotions and thoughts so that we do not perform bad Karm or fall from a meditative state.

In contrast, Bhakti Yog 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 meaningful relationship with him. The logic of Bhakti Yog is that Bhagavān is a great clarified, and any proximity to Him will ‘infect’ us with his qualities and elevate us.

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 easily lose sight of the reality of life around him, due to excessive emotional demeanor in the process, hurting himself and also his dependents.