Nine Methods for the Practice of Bhakti

Nine Methods for the Practice of Bhakti

There are definite ways and means to gain solid ground in cultivating Divine Love and to attract Divine Grace that allows one to outgrow impediments in one’s spiritual evolution. A devotee is able to bring about the complete integration of his personality by the practice of Nine Modes of Devotion. These constitute the ascending steps on the ladder of Bhakti Yoga.

1. Shravana or listening is the first step. As you listen to or read the scriptural teachings expounded by Sages and Saints, you come into their good association (Satsanga) and the orb of their powerful spiritual vibrations. This is the foundation of the devotional movement. If you were to come into contact with a spiritual personality who has the “fire” of Divine Love blazing in his heart, then, from him, a spark will kindle your sentiments of Divine Love. Otherwise, the mind cannot grasp a subject that is so abstract.

2. Kirtana or singing the glory of God is the second method of cultivating Divine Love. This forms an important part of all religious systems of the world. In the Yogic tradition, Mantras (mystic syllables that make up a brief prayer) may be sung as Kirtana or recited as Japa (repetition of Mantras). When this is done with feeling, it is an extremely powerful process of reaching out to God. Listening to devotional music is included in this step.

3. Smarana or remembrance of God, is the third step. It is the constant practice of affirming that Divinity abides within you and all other forms of life. When a person forgets this fact, his mind can be easily overwhelmed by anger, hatred and fear. The constant remembrance of the Divine Self within allows one to lead a God-conscious life and is a powerful tool in the cultivation of devotion.

4. Pada-sevana or service of God through humanity, is the fourth method for cultivating Devotion. Every action must be done in the spirit of serving God in others.

5. Archana or offering flowers to God with devotion, is the fifth step. From a mystical point of view, it means cultivating the virtuous qualities of compassion, contentment, humility, etc. All these qualities are like “flowers,” and if you cultivate them, you are adoring God with the “flowers” of your personality.

6. Vandana or adoring God in all, is the sixth step. It is the increasing perception of recognizing the Divine Self in everybody and being respectful to all. Those who are true devotees of God internally recognize that there is a Divine Hand behind everybody and everything in this world.

7. Dasyam, the seventh step, is the result of the practice of the previous six steps. There develops in a devotee the spirit of being a “Servant” of God (Dasyam). This has been discussed previously.

8. Sakhya. This is followed by the eighth step (Sakhya), the concept of being a “Friend” to God, also discussed previously.

9. Atma-nivedana or self-effacement, meaning absolute surrender to God, is the ninth and last step. In this stage, a devotee achieves perfect communion with God and has no independent ego-sense. His sense of individuality is completely overpowered by the Divine Vision. In other words, such a devotee cannot develop selfishness or be separated from God in any way. He is one with Him at all times. He has Realized God.

Finally, it must be understood that whoever advances on the path of Bhakti Yoga benefits all mankind. There cannot be any better service to humanity than that of developing Divine Love, because it becomes the source of inspiration to all. Such a person becomes a “flower” offered to God, whose fragrance continues to spread forever. This holds true of all great sages and saints of the past, such as Buddha, Jesus, Moses, and during recent times—Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Ramana Maharshi, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Sivananda, and many others.

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From the book Integral Yoga: The Secret to Enlightenment by Swami Jyotirmayananda, published by the Yoga Research Foundation. © Swami Jyotirmayananda. All rights reserved.