Beyond words,
Love.
Beyond concepts,
Love.
Beyond philosophies,
Love.
Beyond judgments,
Love.
Beyond dreams,
Even beyond my ideas of self,
Love.
All things fall on bent knees in the worship of love.
In our daily lives,
We often hear phrases like follow your heart or let your heart decide.
And these phrases suggest that love requires action and effort to be found.
However,
The truth is that love is inherent within us from the moment we're born.
The union of our parents is an act of love and it brings us into existence.
A living expression of love itself.
We are all born from love and therefore capable of experiencing it and sharing it.
So bhakti is derived from the word bhaj,
Which means to share in or belong to,
Worship or be devotional.
It embodies the concept of selflessly sharing love without expecting anything in return.
Much like a mother's love for her child.
We are all bhaktas,
Practitioners of bhakti,
Even unknowingly as we are constantly engaged in acts of love.
Observe the purity and innocence of a baby.
Their existence radiates love,
Reminding us of a deep-rooted knowledge we carry within,
Untarnished by questions,
Thoughts or language.
Bhakti yoga is often referred to as the yoga of pure feeling,
Emphasizing that emotions like compassion,
Love,
Kindness and joy are divine expressions.
Sharing these feelings creates a ripple effect,
Amplifying love and positivity in the world.
Just as laughter can spread throughout a room,
Lighting it up,
Bhakti encourages us to embrace these emotions and let them flow effortlessly,
Resulting in a state of complete bliss known as anandam.
This path of devotion was woven into the tapestry of Indian society and culture as a means for ordinary people to recognize the divine in their everyday lives.
They embrace simplicity,
Trusting in the natural world and the elements to provide for them.
Daily morning and evening rituals offered a sense of order and harmony,
Providing a tangible connection with the unseen forces at play.
In the act of offering a flower and a prayer,
Individuals surrendered themselves entirely to their chosen deity,
Expressing devotion through bhakti.
Being a bhakta does require a touch of madness,
Akin to the intoxication of being deeply in love.
Imagine experiencing that level of intensity and passion for the divine,
Transcending the need for a defined concept of God,
Because to the bhakta,
God is everything and everywhere.
Bhakti yoga invites us to revel in the delight of God,
To dance and sing,
To offer ourselves wholeheartedly by immersing ourselves in surrender,
Devotion and service.
Our yoga practice becomes an expression of love,
Each movement and breath becoming a loving offering,
Effortlessly releasing the tensions of our everyday lives.
Take a moment to reflect on what truly matters in your life.
Whom you love,
Including yourself,
Embrace self-love and kindness,
Allowing it to shape your practice and infuse it with a deeper sense of purpose and connection.
You can incorporate the principles of bhakti yoga into your daily life through these really simple practices.
Feel your own beauty on waking and reflect on the experiences and people that bring love into your life.
Seek and appreciate beauty in the world,
Whether it's a flower,
A tree,
A child's face,
And recognize that that beauty you see is a reflection of the beauty that you are.
Create a personal altar,
A sacred space in your home,
Where you can remind yourself of your inherent love and the love that you have to share.
Fill it with treasured objects,
Flowers,
Candles,
Photos,
Anything that's meaningful to you.
Practice falling in love continuously with sunsets,
Movies,
Music,
Nature,
Friends,
Family,
Always finding a new source of inspiration and love.
And give the gift of your heart.
Create something beautiful,
Be it a song,
Dance,
Painting,
Poem,
A meal,
As a heartfelt offering to yourself,
Recognizing that everything you do is a beautiful act of love,
Reminding you that you are the love itself.
As you walk the path of Bhakti Yoga,
May you find profound joy and fulfillment.
And may love always be your guide.
