So to continue with useful Yoga info hints and tips. I thought I would write about Bhakti Yoga the path of devotion. If you check out my other blog
http://www.drramamdheartinspirations.blogspot.com/ you will see I have been writing about purity of heart--this blog entry ties in with heart inspirations.
What is Bhakti? Bhakti is the deepest feeling of the Soul that percolates through the heart and out into this world. It is the underlying melody and rhythm of the heart that brings out the song of our truly pure emotions into dance and play in this world. It is the feeling of passion, enthusiasm, love, devotion, and longing of the heart. It is pure love for the Divine and for ourselves.
A baby has pure bhakti. Before the ego hardens, a baby is spontaneously happy and joyous. A baby is the purest reflection of God. They are so filled with love, spontaneity, connection, sparkle and laughter--is it not so?
The baby reflects our inner child that has no boundaries.
Yet as adults life gives us so many hurdles that can harden our heart. Our wounding, pain and sorrow our issues get in the way of our original innocence. The wounded inner child turns to many things that create a life that can be upside down and all around.
The practice of devotion like Karma Yoga cannot be written or expressed in words. It has to be experienced. Devotional practices open the heart and this is the form of Yoga.
So this is why chanting, singing and joyous prayers and music are performed: it is all to open the heart; this is the heart of Bhakti Yoga. All cultures have this and all paths know this mysterious power that opens the heart and burns away negative karma. The open heart spreads to others as the joy within spreads through ourselves. Yet, it does not have be chanting and singing. Anything that we find joyous--art, creativity, music can be considered as this all opens the heart as well.
As Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Love in Action, sacred duty and tasks, Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of Love that emanates and percolates through stirring the heart inside through devotion. It is this devotion that is offered to others, without strings attached--without any agenda --purely to share joy and love. In Bhakti, you may or may not be performing tasks for others as in Karma Yoga. One's very presence uplifts others because the heart is so opened by the Soul that everyone is attracted like a magnet.
Only practice will help us understand the interplay between Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga as each is so interrelated.
Without real devotion in life we are all like dried prunes. Bhakti or awakened inner love is the ripening force of the heart, just like a fruit becomes juicy and tasty through the mysterious process of ripening.
We ripen when we are open. If we are not open and yet long to feel this love then we practice many devotional methods to get the heart recharged and refreshed. Through devotion we regain and remember the true innocence of a child at wonder and play--free and unbounded as if running through blue bonnet fields.
Dr. Rama
Dallas Texas
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