Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga transforms emotions into devotion. It is a path that tends to appeal to people who are emotional by nature. Since the emotions cannot be endlessly repressed, Bhakti Yoga teaches techniques for their sublimation. Through practices such as chanting, prayer, and the repetition of mantra (sacred formulae), emotional energy is channeled into devotion, turning anger, hatred, and jealousy in a positive direction. Emotional love is changed into pure divine love. The Bhakti Yoga practitioner tries to see God in all.
True devotion carries you through the emotional ups and downs of life and becomes an anchor at times of major challenges. It helps to steady the mind and develop concentration: the mind follows the heart, so it becomes easy to focus on something for which you have love.
Meditating on your ishta devata (chosen aspect of God) is the first step of this devotional approach to union with the supreme essence. Eventually, you realize that this form is none other than your inner Self and you will see the Self in all forms. Developing devotion is not a detour; it is a necessary step in the meditation process. Bhakti Yoga also gives you freedom in how you relate to God: as Divine Father, Divine Mother, friend, lord, divine child, or divine beloved.
The essence of meditation is simple: to sustain concentration on a single object. A sacred sound is one of the easiest ways to gather the ever-wandering rays of the mind. At the outset of practice, you may be unaware of the powers of a mantra, feeling only the relaxing effects produced by repetition, and not connecting with it with the heart. As practice deepens, the mind quietens through regular practice and a more balanced and healthy lifestyle; as the mind is freed from negativity, meditation becomes more meaningful and rewarding.
Developing devotion through mantra repetition opens the heart and is a key to success in meditation. You must put your heart into your practice, otherwise it will remain superficial and will not bring deep healing to your mind. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali writes that concentration should be practiced for a long time, without interruption, and with sincere devotion.
Devotional meditation involves visualizing the form of an aspect of the supreme reality and repeating His or Her name by means of a devotional or saguna (‘with form’) mantra. It is this repetition that helps you to develop a relationship with God, the absolute.
Use the Universal Prayer as a daily devotional anchor before or after chanting or meditation.
The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God), part of the Mahabharata, is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna that speaks to the inner struggle between the lower mind and spiritual essence. It is also a clear exposition of three main paths of yoga – karma yoga (action), bhakti yoga (devotion), and jnana yoga (knowledge) – offering practical guidance and encouragement for daily life.
Narada’s Bhakti Sutras are a classical scripture in which the sage Narada describes the path of devotion to God (Bhakti Yoga). Written in sutra form, they consist of 84 aphorisms on the cultivation of bhakti (divine love).
The Purana tradition in India takes the ancient spiritual teachings and distills them into story form; stories about Krishna, Rama, Siva, and the Divine Mother are especially beloved.
This scripture with Lord Krishna as its central figure is a comprehensive encyclopaedia of the ethics, philosophy and spirituality of India. The Srimad Bhagavatam is a significant work on Bhakti (devotion) in harmony with knowledge (Jnana). Here the ambrosia of Bhakti is blended with the elixir of Jnana. This scripture is unique in its beauty, its charm, its language and its philosophy.
The Ramayana, or ‘Rama’s story’, is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to Valmiki. It tells of Rama’s exile with his wife, Sita, and brother Lakshmana, Sita’s abduction by Ravana, and her rescue after Rama defeats Ravana with the help of Hanuman – Rama’s devoted servant – and an army of monkeys and bears.
Rama stands for Dharma, the virtue of righteousness. He is the personification of the ideal son, husband and statesman.
The Mahabharata is a vast Sanskrit epic traditionally attributed to Vyasa. It follows the five Pandava brothers through the loss of their kingdom, years of exile, and their preparations for war alongside Krishna. At its heart is the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna’s battlefield teaching to Arjuna, symbolizing the struggle between the higher and lower mind.
Mantra meditation or japa involves repeating a sacred syllable either internally or out loud.
Repeat OM out loud for up to 5 minutes, observing resonance, then hold the vibration of M for as long as your exhalation lasts. Continue repeating OM silently for up to a further 10 minutes, synchronizing the sound with the breath: inhale OM and exhale OM.
When you have finished the practice, sit quietly for a few minutes, allowing the vibrations to settle, and try to maintain the current as you get back into your daily routine.
To purify the energy in your meditation area, you can use a short ritual called arati at the end of each meditation session. This is a ceremony in which a flame is offered in your place of meditation while mantras are repeated. If you are traveling and have to meditate in a different place for a period of time, perform arati before meditating, as it clears the space of negative energies.
Repeat OM (or your chosen mantra) with sincere devotion and without interruption.
One short chant or devotional song.
Allow the vibrations to settle and carry the current into routine duties.
At the end to strengthen purity within and around your meditation place.
