Chapter XVII

"Whoever is busy with no other thoughts than those about Me, whoever is ever remembering Me, he certainly will release his dying breath through the centre of the head; he will attain Me. I am as near him, as he is near Me. My dear Arjuna! How can I forget him, who never forgets Me? Forgetting is a human frailty, not the characteristic of God, let Me tell you! There is no need for Yoga or Thapas, or even Jnana; whether you give these up since you are too weak or whether, in spite of having the strength, you do not feel like struggling to master these, it does not matter. I do not ask for Yoga or Thapas; I only ask that your mind be fixed on me. Devote your mind to Me, dedicate it to Me, that is all I ask for."

"If a Sadhaka cannot do at least this act of dedication to the Lord, I wonder what his Sadhana is capable of! If you plead that you have not the strength of mind, I ask where the strength comes from to dedicate yourself as you do now to hollow ideals, the vain fantasies of family, fortune and fame. Can you not direct this strength to that supreme dedication? Man easily offers his all to poisonous objective pleasures, but squirms and protests as if a mountain is tumbling on him when the call is made to dedicate his thoughts, feelings and acts to the almighty! Salvation in his eyes is as cheap and as easy to attain as greens in the vegetable market! He seeks to escape from bondage as easily as that. He does not yearn much; but he desires to earn much in the spiritual field! He is sunk more in Thamas than in Thapas. But he wishes for the fruits that Thapas alone can offer."

"Those who are prompted by genuine desire for the fruit must overcome all obstacles and temptations, doubts and disappointments, and dwell on the thought of the Lord. Then the Lord will not keep apart; He will confer on that Sadhaka the status of Sameness, described as Aham Brahmasmi. ('I am you, You are I, We are one') And the Sadhaka will be contemplating this unity without break. This is referred to as Ananyabhaava."

Arjuna asked, "You say that this Ananyabhaava, this Ananya-bhakthi is quite easy and that there is no need to take any great trouble; you also declare that for those who have acquired it, You are readily attainable! Well, what exactly is the benefit of attaining you?"