Seeds for the Bhakthi Sprouts

The attitude of the worshipper and the worshipped is the seed of Bhakthi. First, the worshipper's mind is attracted by the special qualities of the object of worship. He tries to acquire for himself these special qualities. This is the Sadhana. In the early stages of Sadhana, the distinction between worshipper and worshipped is full but, as the Sadhana progresses, this feeling will diminish and when attainment is reached, there will be no distinction whatsoever. Whatever may be the object of worship one has grasped and loved and sought by Sadhana, one should have firm faith that Jivatma is Paramaatma. There is only one wish fit to be entertained by the Sadhaka: and that is the realisation of the Lord, Iswara Saakshaatkaara. There is no room in the mind for any other wish. That is why Kunthi Devi prayed thus to Lord Krishna: "Let us have always, O, Jagadguru, distress and misery, if only You grant us Your Darsan, the Darsan which destroys rebirth."

The Bhaktha who desires the Supreme and seeks to attain it should have this mental attitude. Then, regardless of joy and sorrow, without any worry about one's own satisfaction he will engage himself in Sadhana firmly, uninterruptedly, and with conviction, and after understanding the Reality, he will have full contentment.

From this point of view, there is no difference between a Jivanmuktha and a Bhaktha; they are both beyond Ahamkara, Prakrithi with its three attributes, and Varnashrama Dharma. The hearts of such will be full of compassion and the urge to do good to the world. It is their Brahmananda which impels them to act in this way. Such a Bhaktha will have no desires, for desires are the products of 'I'-and-'mine' feelings. Only after they are uprooted, a person becomes a Bhaktha. There can be no room in him for desire. He is a Bhaktha of Amrithaswarupa, Immortal Nature. For one with that Amrithaswarupa, there can be no appetite except for the sweetness of Ananda.