We sometimes feel a hole within – a sense of emptiness that gnaws especially when we aren’t deadening ourselves internally with the racehorse pace and the mindless entertainment of our times.
What is the cause of the hole?
The absence of the Whole, the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krishna.
The Bhagavad-gita (15.07) indicates that we are parts of Krishna. As parts of the all-blissful Supreme Being, we gain complete fulfillment by harmonizing with him through loving service.
Unfortunately, we refuse to play the part of the part. Being misled by our mind and senses, we imagine ourselves to be the whole. Or rather, we believe that fulfilling the desires of the mind and senses will make us satisfied, that is, whole. However, mental and sensual gratification can never fill the inner hole.
Why?
Because nothing can serve as a substitute for the all-attractive Supreme.
The presence of the Whole alone can fill the inner hole.
And the easiest way to invoke Krishna’s presence is through devotion.
When we practice bhakti-yoga sincerely, we express to Krishna our desire to love him, to install him on our heart’s altar, displacing the many things that the mind and senses have impelled us to place there in the past. Being pleased by our devotional intention, he reciprocates by manifesting his presence in our heart, thereby releasing within it electrifying currents of oceanic happiness – currents that increase in intensity and ecstasy as our devotion increases.
And the path of bhakti is so inclusive that it doesn’t demand external disconnection for inner connection. We can connect with Krishna not only through explicitly devotional activities alone but also through our vocation according to our talents and inclinations. By worshiping him with our work (Bhagavad-gita 18.46), we can spiritualize that vocation and relish sublime fulfillment therein too.
Explanation of article:
We are ‘parts and parcels’ of the Lord. Srila Prabhupada said it so many times. The whole acintya-bhedabheda-tattva philosophy is contained within this phrase. We are one and different from the Lord at the same time. As part we are one with the Lord and as parcel we are different. In BG 9:4 the Lord says: ‘All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.’ The whole contains the part but the parcel cannot contain the whole. As part we are always under the control of the Lord but as parcel we can choose not to be in alignment with Him. That means we are still fulfilling our duty as a part but as parcel we are not experiencing our full potential of unlimited ecstasy. But we can bring our parcel in alignment with Lord Sri Krishna through devotional service. What is that? In essence it is our affection for the Lord. When we have a tiny drop of love for the Lord He will turn it into intense love so our devotion becomes complete and beyond measurement.
Yes, that is indeed true. The six senses cloud us from the real nature of ourselves, from seeing ourselves as the fragmented part of the Absolute Whole, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna.
We are neither this body nor the mind, but pure consciousness.
My problem is, how do we establish ourselves in ‘the’ true nature? In the face of adversities, how do we maintain our inner peace and remember that everything is but an illusion?
Is Yoga and Pranayama the way to do it, or is Bhakthi Yoga sufficient?
Answered here:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/08/to-realize-everything-is-illusion-amidst-adversities-is-yoga-and-pranayama-the-way-or-is-bhakti-yoga-sufficient/
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