Talk:The Pitfalls and Watchouts of Bhakti Yoga
Mistaking one’s own desires for the Divine Will[1][2][3]
The tradition of Bhakti is full of beautiful ceremonies of worship, pilgrimage and festivals. Some people participate in these activities merely for the purpose of making their senses of taste, touch, hearing, sight happy. We often come across as people who pretend to be great devotees of Bhagavan, but who attend all the festivities merely for eating sweets, wearing good clothes and jewels and so on. In reality, their hearts have no faith or love for Bhagavan. Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa narrated a story to criticize a person who celebrated festivals only for their ‘fun’ aspect-
Parable: The Real Purpose of Sacrificing the Goat to Ma Kali
A man used to celebrate the Dura Puja at his house with great pomp. Goats were sacrificed from sunrise to sunset. But after a few years the sacrifice was not so imposing. Then someone said to him, “How is it, sir, that the sacrifice at your place has become such a tame affair?” “Don’t you see?” he said, “My teeth are gone now.[4]”
Nevertheless, ‘something is better than nothing’. Even if someone doesn’t want to focus on the underlying message from the Hindu tradition, a superficial celebration of the festival also ensures that he stays connected with his roots.
References[edit]
- ↑ Adiswarananda, Swami. The Four Yogas. Skylight Paths Publishing, Woodstock, Vermont, pp. 135–143.
- ↑ Rama, Swami. Samadhi, the Highest State of Wisdom. Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, 2002, p. 43.
- ↑ Sivananda, Swami. Triple Yoga. 6th ed., The Divine Life Society, 1999, p. 113
- ↑ Paramahansa, Ramakrishna. Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Madras, p. 7.