Virtuous worship involves contemplating God in all of His qualities and integrating this awareness into one's natural state. It means to approach each action as an act of surrender to God. A form of virtuous worship involves observing one's body, mind, intellect, ego, senses, and actions with a sense of detachment. To connect with God through contemplation is to see the divine self within oneself, and to recognize the presence of God in all aspects of the universe. This includes perceiving Brahm (the unmanifested) in the world (the manifested). It is also important to sense the divine consciousness in everything, such as earth, water, fire, air, sky, and so on. "Ghat Ghat Ramta Ram Ramaiya" - this phrase reminds us that true virtuous worship involves realizing this truth through both our thoughts and our actions.
In certain contexts, words like "I", "my", and "me" can be seen as spiritual or divine. For instance, when Sri Krishna uses these words in this chapter or elsewhere, it is to remind us that our individual selves are an aspect of the divine. "I love you" can be understood as divine loving itself. This is something to be kept in mind as we practice virtuous devotion.
Arjun expressed, "Oh God! Who is the best among your devotees? Those who always keep you in their hearts and maintain a connection with you by directing their mind, intellect, conscience, and ego towards you, or those who perform all their deeds solely for you, or those who constantly meditate on the imperishable, hidden, and supreme God residing within their soul?"
Arjun is seeking guidance on the different paths to devotion and which path is considered the best by the divine. He is acknowledging that some devotees maintain a constant connection with God, while others perform all their actions intending to please Him, and yet others focus on the inner divine that resides within them. By asking this question, Arjun is showing his eagerness to understand the different paths to devotion, and he is open to receiving guidance from the divine. This is an important aspect of being a devotee - the willingness to learn, understand and follow the path that resonates with one's heart.1.
Shri Bhagavan responded, "Oh Arjuna! In my opinion, the best among the devotees are those who keep their minds constantly connected with me, who always engage with me by remembering me in their daily practices, and who worship me with unwavering devotion. Such devotees, who have surrendered themselves completely to me, are the ones who are dearest to me."
Here, Shri Bhagavan emphasizes the importance of constantly keeping the mind connected to God and engaging with Him in daily life. He also emphasizes the significance of devotion, which is the key to establishing a deep and meaningful connection with the divine. The devotion of a true yogi is characterized by complete surrender and dedication to God, and it is this kind of devotion that is most cherished by the divine. Through this response, Shri Bhagavan guides Arjuna on the path of devotion and the qualities that make a devotee dear to the divine.2.
Those devotees who are able to control their senses through the practice of Ashtanga Yoga, or by other means such as performing bandhas (energy locks) like Mool bandha, Udyan bandha, Jalandhar bandha, etc., and who remain focused on the universal God - the pure, ultimate, eternal, unchanging, formless, indestructible divine being that cannot be fully understood or described by anyone - are the ones who attain a state of equanimity towards all beings. Such devotees become a manifestation of the cosmic divine, and they are received by God in their divine form. Through these verses, it is clear that the practice of controlling the senses and the mind is an essential aspect of devotion. Only by developing the ability to remain focused on the divine being, who is beyond human comprehension, can a devotee attain a state of equanimity towards all beings and become a form of the cosmic divine. This is the ultimate goal of devotion, and it can be achieved through various means, including Ashtanga Yoga and the practice of bandhas.3.
The ultimate divine being, which is beyond the grasp of the senses, mind, intellect, and ego, and which is even greater than Mahat (the cosmic intelligence), is the cause for the living self and everything else. This means that even though we are driven by our bodily intelligence, there is a divine force that governs all of creation, and it is this force that we must connect with to transcend our bodily limitations.4.
However, it is not easy to connect with this divine force because our attachment to the body is very strong. It requires a lot of effort and discipline to overcome this attachment and focus our attention on the latent divine being. This is why the worship of the latent divine is very difficult, and it requires a great deal of dedication and perseverance. Walking on this path of devotion is like walking on the edge of an axe - it requires careful attention and a steady hand. The slightest misstep can cause one to fall off the path and lose sight of the ultimate goal. Therefore, it is important to approach this path with humility, patience, and a deep sense of reverence for the divine.5.
The devotees who constantly keep me in their thoughts and dedicate their actions and their fruits to the divine, their every move, from waking to sleeping, eating to drinking, working and more, is done in service to me. Those who are steadfast, unwavering in their devotion to me, who meditate on me, keep me close, and constantly recite Om, understand the essence of virtuous worship. This means recognizing God in all aspects and considering every action as an offering to the divine while staying true to one's nature. To observe one's body, mind, intellect, ego, and senses with a detached perspective is also virtuous worship. Connecting with God through contemplation and seeing the divine in all beings and every aspect of creation is the ultimate goal. To perceive the divine consciousness within every element of nature, in the earth, water, fire, air, and sky, is to truly understand the essence of "Ghat Ghat Ramta Ram Ramaiya" - realizing divinity in thought and action. This is the practice of virtuous devotion that one must always remember.
The state of Brahm is beyond description, understanding, and knowledge, and is unreachable. It is the ultimate position where there is no remembrance and even formlessness happens without any support. This state is known as the Turiyateet stage, where there is no void or knowledge, and the active power of knowledge is reduced to zero. Even the infinite sound of Anhad ends and the resolve of God is quiet. All that remains is the latent, unreachable Brahm, the supreme element. To achieve this state, one must practice the Ashtanga Yoga method by preventing all senses from going towards external stimuli, or performing various bandhas and awakening Kundalini, or receiving the teachings of Sri Bhagwan. Sit in a place that is neither too high nor too low, with the head, neck, and body in a straight line, and focus on the interior part of the nasal passage while disregarding other directions. With a peaceful mind, chant the divine name Om and stop the breath, placing the focus on the middle of the eyebrows. Through continuous practice and stillness, one can attain the ultimate state of knowledge. The desireless man remains indifferent to the behaviour of the senses, while the virtuous worshipper always remembers all actions by surrendering them to the divine.6.
Dear Arjun, I assure you that I will save those who are loving devotees and care for me from the world of death. When a devotee surrenders their mind to me, I enter into it and establish a deep connection. Over time, this connection grows stronger, and I take over the entire mind, leaving a great legacy behind. I am also certain that I will bear the responsibility of my devotees' Yogakshem, which means that any mistake or shortage in their yoga, meditation, or worship practice will be taken care of by me. Therefore, the devotee is saved from any harm or obstacle that may come in the way of their spiritual progress.7
Set your mind on me, and fix your intelligence on me. The knowledge that arises from interactions between living beings and their senses is called the mind, while the knowledge that arises from the interaction between the soul and Jiva-self is called intelligence. Sceptical knowledge comes from the mind, while deterministic knowledge comes from the intellect. Therefore, it is crucial to fix your mind and intellect on me. Direct your mind towards me from the external world, and direct your intellect from the living self towards the soul. By focusing your mind and intellect on me, you will be united with my spiritual self and attain the latent state of ultimate consciousness.8
If you find it difficult to fix your mind on the self and realize that the mind cannot always be engaged in self-thinking, witnessing, or meditation, then you should focus on putting your mind on me. By doing so, the outward direction of your mind will stop, and your habits will change. Gradually, your mind will begin to move from external subjects towards the soul, and with continued practice, it will eventually stop wandering and dissolve into the self.9.
Even if you find it difficult to practice and cannot stop your mind and senses from wandering towards external subjects, cannot meditate or remain to witness, cannot let go of your ego, etc., there is still a way for you to attain self-realization through self-yoga. Listen to these simple solutions: based on your natural religion and the family you were born into, perform your natural deeds and offer them to me. Let your actions, such as rising and sitting, eating and drinking, and business, be directed towards me. By offering all your karma to me, your mind and intellect will become fixed in me, and as a result, you will attain the ultimate state of self-realization. 10.
If you are not able to perform actions for me or offer the results of your actions to me, then please be dedicated and share the outcomes of all your actions with me. When you perform any task, think of me while doing it, and when you finish, remember me again. Consider whatever results come from the action as the will of God. With this practice, you will gradually become detached from the material world, and your spiritual discipline will become stronger.11.
Practical experience is more valuable than just theoretical knowledge. Meditation is more valuable than just practical experience. Giving up attachment to the outcomes of our actions is even better than meditation. The best way to connect with God is through renunciation of worldly desires, followed by contemplation, meditation, and devotion. Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures and calming the mind is the best way to find inner peace.12.
All living beings who are free from hostility are friends with everyone. They have a natural sense of compassion that is not based on a personal attachment or illusions of the world. They are humble and equal-minded, regardless of whether they are happy or sad. They are forgiving and content within themselves, having learned to control their minds and senses. Their determination is fixed on God, and they constantly keep their minds and intellects focused on God. Those who know and understand themselves in this way are dear to God, and they hold a special place in the eyes of God.13,14.
A yogi who does not cause fear to others and does not feel threatened by the world, but instead radiates a sense of well-being to all, whether they are good or bad, simple or wicked, is dear to God. Such a yogi does not take pleasure in acquiring what they desire, nor do they feel jealous of others' success. They do not fear or feel threatened by any living being. Instead, they remain centred on themselves and devoted to God.15.
A Mahatma, or great soul, is free from desire and always content within themselves. They are supremely holy, and their company is pure. They treat everyone equally and do not experience the sufferings of the world or the afterlife, because they are detached and indifferent to worldly desires. They surrender all their actions to the Lord and renounce the results of those actions. Such a Mahatma, who is centred on the self, is dearly loved by God.16.
A perfect Karma Yogi is someone who believes only in the self and finds happiness within themselves, without depending on external sources. They do not envy anyone because they believe that they and God are one. They have no worries or desires and surrender all their actions to the Lord. Such a person, who is centred in themselves and devoted to God, is dearly loved by God.17.
An Advaita Mahatma is someone who is always situated in ultimate joy and sees both enemies and friends as equal to themselves. They are not affected by external factors such as temperature or emotional states like happiness or sorrow and treat all circumstances equally. They have eliminated the root of attachment within themselves and are dearly loved by God..18.
A Yogi with equanimity is someone who treats both blasphemy and praise as equal and does not become angry or pleased by either. They are situated in desire-less silence, and are satisfied with their current conditions, no matter what they are. They do not have an attachment to any particular place and view their home as a temporary dwelling. They have a subtle intellect and are centred on themselves. Such a Mahatma is dearly loved by God.19.
Those who have reverence for God and establish their mind and intellect in God, while consuming supreme self-knowledge, receive the nectar of their true self. Such people, who are self-realized and devoted to God, are very dear to God.20.
om tat sat
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