10.2. The Way to Learn Bhakti

In the way of spiritual fulfillment, one needs an ideal role model. We learned that bhakti is the essential means to reach the ultimate; therefore, Akṣarabrahman is the ideal for the seekers to learn bhakti. Just as a bridge serves as a medium to help one cross easily over from one side of the river to the other, Akṣarabrahman manifests as the Guru and serves as a bridge. He saves us from drowning in māyā, helps us to cross the ocean of saṃsāra and teaches us to attain Paramātman through his bhakti.^[1]

Along with it as the Bhāṣyakāra claims:

“parabrahmaṇi bhaktiṃ tu brahmabhāvopyapekṣate”^[2]

“Bhakti needs brahmabhāva for its completion.”^[3]

And for brahmabhāva Akṣarabrahman’s company is inevitable. Thus, the Brahmasvarūpa Guru is the only means to attain bhakti. This is called pratyakṣa bhakti as well. A mumuksu (seeker) having mumukṣutvam (earnest desire for moksa) should have first of all firm faith in the words of the genuinely great sādhu (the Akṣarabrahman -Guru); should listen carefully to and ponder over the words of the great sādhu; should serve him in thought, speech and action; should keep up sincerely the company of him. Certainly, then the right devotion based on the knowledge of Parabrahman's greatness and glory grows and blooms in the heart.

This great sadhu is the Akṣara-Guru, who himself is the finest devotee, the perfect obedient servant of Parabrahman, and the knower of the secret wisdom of Parabrahman. Thus, he is our best friend, philosopher, and guide to nourish and nurture devotion in our hearts. Therefore, one who lives by the words of Parabrahman, and sees Parabrahman and the Guru (the truly great sādhu) as faultless, and sees in them all good and divinity -finds the spontaneous growth of devotion in one's heart and consequently, he becomes brahmarūpa.^[4]

Bhadreśadāsa avers while discussing on bhakti at the famous verse brahmabhutah:

“brahmarūpo yo mumukṣuḥ sa eva paramātmaparābhaktiyogyo bhavati iti siddhāntitam” (Bhagavad-Gītā 18/54, p.361)

“Only one who is brahmarūpa is eligible to offer bhakti to Parabrahman.”

Thus, Svāminārāyaṇa makes a decision:

“One who does not proffer bhakti to Parabrahman after becoming brahmarūpa cannot be said to have accomplished final liberation.” (Vacanamrut Loyā 7, p.303)

It is clear that in the Svāminārāyaṇa Vedanta, the profound company of the great sādhu (the Akṣara-Guru) brings the intense love for Parabrahman with the deepest attachment towards him. The union with the Akṣara-Guru should rest on the principles of devotion, affection, closeness, esteem, unreserved frankness, servility, and compliance. The affection for the great sādhu (the Akṣara-Guru) should be as deep and natural as is for one's body and its relation. Such an overwhelming love and attachment for the Akṣara-Guru is the best means for self-realization, the best means to understand the transcendental splendor of Parabrahman, and the best means to have the Parabrahman-realization.^[5]

This type of extraordinary love and keenness for Parabrahman, trust, faith, and firm knowledge of the manifest (perceptibly present/ pratyakṣa) form of Parabrahman are predestined factors. Thereafter the devotee is unable to live without Him even for a fraction of a second, forget his Parabrahman-consciousness, he constantly remains drowned in Parabrahman-remembrance, and he dwells in most obedient servility. As a result, he is a worthy and a great devotee to remain in the service of Parabrahman Himself.^[6] However, not all seekers can achieve such a great company of sadhus. Therefore, to serve the parama-ekāntika satpuruṣa (the Akṣara-Guru) is a rare fortune earned by a person of great merits (punya).^[7] He who serves the Akṣara-Guru with heart and ātman, stands favored by Parabrahman and he certainly finds a place in the highest abode to serve Parabrahman eternally.^[8] Consequently, this service to the Akṣara-Guru brings the highest form of devotion blooms in the heart. He attains the samādhis tate of upāsanā.^[9]

In this manner, the Guru teaches us that all the seva in the satsang fellowship should be cultivated without any selfish motive, ego, discrimination, or fault-finding. One earns the favor of Parabrahman only when the Akṣara-Guru and the devotees of Parabrahman are served with a changed vision of seeing them as divine, faultless, and vice-free. Thus, one should think of himself as the most fortunate of getting the chance to serve Parabrahman and His devotees.^[10]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Katha-upaniṣad 3/2 pp.123-124

[2]:

Svāminārāyaṇa Siddhāntasudhā Kārikā 386

[3]:

Brahmasūtra 3/2/23, p.300

[4]:

APM 4/53/60

[5]:

Vacanāmṛta Vartāl 11

[6]:

Bhagavad-Gītā 7/17, p.165

[7]:

Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā II/59, Bhagavad-Gītā 7/3, p.157

[8]:

Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā II/28

[9]:

Vacanāmṛta Vartāl 3, Vacanāmṛta Amdāvād 3

[10]:

Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā II/41