sadhana v0.87: On Bhakti

As someone raised in the West, I have always thought of Bhakti with a negative association. Advaita Vedanta appeals to my Western, Englightenment-infused philosophical bent. But without Bhakti the practice of Vedanta and Yoga is dry and intellectual. There is not aim to the practice and the energy becomes diffused.

Without Bhakti to a Istadevata, Vedanta becomes difficult as it is hard to understand the ultimate realty without form. Raja Yoga becomes difficult because there is no centering to the focus. Karma Yoga becomes difficult because there is no one to offer the fruits of the actions. With devotion to and Ista, there is a form that we are offering out actions to. It is a form that we can meditate on and bring our focus back to.

parabrahman

My mission is to build a society that is built on Vedantic ideals.

The West is suffering from a crisis of identity and purpose because it tied itself to materialism and consumerism. India is also going down this path, it will get wealthy, but we should not forget that India has a rich spiritual and philosophical tradition that combines the material and spiritual. My goal is to build a society that is built on these Vedantic ideals that combines the material and spiritual, a combination of the strengths of the West and the East.

Prayer & Mantras

Pratyahara is Japa Yoga which is the repetition of a mantra. I also think that memorizing verses is a part of the pratyahara. The goal is to constantly focus on a mantra which is repeated with devotion and with the Ista in the mind's eye. When we repeat a mantra repeatedly the mind is focused on the mantra and starts repeating it on its own. When we stop it the clarity is the start of dharana.