WHY THE PATH CALLED BHAKTI(SUFISM) IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROPOSITION

WHY THE PATH CALLED BHAKTI(SUFISM) IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROPOSITION



Acting (pretending) as Bhakta and being a Bhakta are two different things.

Generally what is seen is acting not being, but acting.

BHA=Bhagwan (a state of being) + akti= to be united ----means the Bhakta (sufi) is one who has merged (united) with God.

After happening/realisation of merger neither Bhakta (sufi) as person nor God as an entity remains as knowledge/feeling of separation is no more there.

It is not that Bhakta (sufi) does not know that there is no God separate from him/her, but just out of reverence towards his earlier “misunderstanding that God and he are separate”  Bhakta (sufi) continues to show his/her love towards God. This reverence is because of the fact that as in the first place because of that (understanding of duality) only he/she came to know the truth (non-dual---non-separation).

The story of enlightenment of Ramakrishna Paramhamsa in the presence of his Advaita guru, Totapuri is a glaring example of this state.

This has also been very beautifully explained by Nisargadatta Mahraj when he was asked why he worships his Guru four times a day and on the other hand you say that it (worshiping) has no meaning.

Let two words TRUST and INNOCENCE be explained first.

1. Trust:-

One has to start from having a slight bit of faith(belief) in someone or something.

With the progress in sadhna a part of faith which is nothing but full of doubt, gets converted into trust and this goes on decreasing and trust goes increasing. In the end faith come to an end or not and whatever remains is trust (without a bit of doubt).

This happens because whatsoever were believed (imagined) now became his truth due to own experiences.

In this state of trust the personality of Bhakta comes to an end due to merger (finding him already united) with the whole, he/she finds that he/she is in everything and everyone.

The feeling of separation is no more present there.

2. Innocence:-

This is the original or inherent quality of nature.

The body is already innocent.

For the body it is impossible to loose its innocence.

When mind comes into play then we say that the person is not innocent.

It means loss of innocence is directly linked with the working of mind.

If the mana-vachana-karma(thought-saying-action) are in full synchronization in a person, he is called innocent.

The starting point is the mana(thoughts) only.

And the innocent person will always be open to anything like a child.

He will not follow a fixed path at all like a child.

His decision will be spontaneous like a child .



Now why Bhakti is a difficult path:----------

Is it not true that the trust could not get developed between wife and husband even in the whole life time remaining together ?

If the trust between the persons living as wife and husband staying together for even 50-60 years, cannot develop, do you think the trust will develop with so called imaginary God about whom you have no idea at all ?

Then what to do?

The Bhakta wants to be loved by God but he does not know God.

Then how to approach the unknown God?


Here one concept will have to be brought in to understand.

The concept is “All the constituents of the creation are dear to God they are His creations."

These constituents are known to us.

My point is that in such a situation will it not be a better option to approach God through the constituents of creation only?

This appears to be logical too.

Further among all the constituents of the creation humans are very close to us.

Then why not to start with humans?

Even among humans son, wife, husband, daughter, maid servant, servant, driver, washerman, etc. are more closer than others.

So far as things are concerned many things are near to us which we use on daily basis.

So why not to start with those thing which are in daily use like bed, cot, tooth brush, wash basin, utensils, food items, dining table, showcase, car, things in office/shops etc.


How to start ?


You have to simply give attention towards the animate and inanimates listed above.

This giving/focusing of attention is nothing but expressing love towards them.

What is expression of love?

This is nothing but focusing (giving attention) of consciousness (love) toward somebody/something.

This simple act of yours has tremendous inherent power(capacity) to uplift you and convert you into a true Bhakta.

All of your showering of love towards animate and inanimate pushes you towards realisation of your own Godhood nature.



Reasons why to start with the constituents of the creation.

To understand this I am giving you two situations as under:-

1st situation-- I express/shower too much love towards you we being close friends , but I don’t love your sons and daughters. Will you be able to love me? Will it be possible for us to remain close to each other? Perhaps-No

2nd situation—I don’t express/shower any love towards you (supposing we don't know each other), but I love your children too much. Will you stop yourself from expressing/showering your love towards me? Will you and I not come very near to each other? Definitely-Yes.

In the same way the constituents of creation are near and dear to the God and if we give attention to the every constituent of the creation how it is possible that we will not come close to the God ? Will it not happen that this act in turn make our nature trusting irrespective of other factors and then we will automatically come near to God or our own Godhood/Buddhahood.


Hence for a person to tread on the Bhakti path following qualities must be there:---

1) He/she must be of Trusting Nature irrespective of nature of the person trusted upon.

2) He/she must be “INNOCENT” as this is the inherent quality of UNIVERSE

3) He/she must be totally OPEN i.e. he/she must not be of discriminating nature. In other words he must be living in a state of acceptance mode.

Ramakrishna Paramhamsa was a perfect example of staying in acceptance mode.



But where are these qualities visible in this today's scientific world ?


Now it is left to you to decide ?