T Ram Sewak

SANJEEVANI

Kakabhushundiji continues to extol the virtues of Chintamani Bhakti (devotion) in Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.120. He states:

moh aava lobh bujhavaa

byapahin .bhari jinh.. dukhari

"Delusion does not come near, and greed can't blow it. Ignorance and darkness are destroyed, and the wicked tendencies of lust and desires do not approach the one in whom devotion resides. Further, none can attain true happiness without this divine jewel, and the one who possesses it is not afflicted with any mental affliction that troubles all beings."

Kakabhushundiji contrasts the lamp of knowledge (Vigyan Deep) with the self-effulgent jewel of Bhakti. When Vigyan Deep is lit, delusion (moh) diminishes and settles beneath it. Eulogising the jewel of Bhakti, he asserts that delusion does not even come close - let alone the need to eradicate it. Vigyan Deep is constantly threatened to be extinguished by the gusts of ignorance and the winds of sensual pleasures. However, the resplendent jewel, Chintamani Bhakti, faces no such threat. Ignorance finds no place where Bhakti resides, as Bhakti overpowers all negative emotions like desire, anger, and arrogance.

A Bhakt sees Him everywhere and in everything. All of his karma is devoted to Him. The question is, when pure Bhakti permeates all of Bhakt's worldly activities, then how can sensory pleasures become an obstacle? The Bhakt's senses and inner faculties constantly experience divine bliss through devotion. Why would the senses be attracted to material pleasures when they are immersed in bliss (Anand)? Shri Krishna affirms this in Gita 12.12 when He states that peace immediately follows renunciation (karma phal tyag). In its very process, Bhakti dismantles the illusion of Avidya Maya (I & Mine, You & Yours) as the Bhakt imbibes His omnipresence.

Vigyan Deep, which destroys ignorance, is lit after a lot of personal discipline; Bhakti does the same instantly because it is the self-effulgent Divine grace! Bhakti is the Sanjeevani for all worldly pains and delusions! / DAILY WORLD /

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com