Bhakti Yoga

  • Bhakti Yoga 10: The Method and The Means

    Bhakti Yoga 10: The Method and The Means

    This is the tenth and the last chapter in the series of Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. In regard to the method and the means of Bhakti-Yoga we read in the commentary of Bhagvan Ramanuja on the Vedanta-Sutras: “The attaining of That comes through discrimination, controlling the passions, practice, sacrificial work, purity, strength, and suppression…

  • Bhakti Yoga 9: The Chosen Ideal

    Bhakti Yoga 9: The Chosen Ideal

    This is the ninth chapter in the series on Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. The next thing to be considered is what we know as Ishta-Nishtha. One who aspires to be a Bhakta (Devotee) must know that “so many opinions are so many ways”. He must know that all the various sects of the various…

  • Bhakti Yoga 8: The Worship of Substitutes and Images

    Bhakti Yoga 8: The Worship of Substitutes and Images

    This is the eighth chapter of the Bhakti Yoga series by Swami Vivekananda. The next points to be considered are the worship of Pratikas or of things more or less satisfactory as substitutes for God, and the worship of Pratimas or images. What is the worshp of God through a Pratika? It is – Joining…

  • Bhakti Yoga 7: The Mantra – OM

    Bhakti Yoga 7: The Mantra – OM

    This is the seventh chapter in the series on Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. But we are now considering not these Maha-Purushas, the great incarnations, but only the Siddha-Gurus (teachers who have attained the goal); they, as a rule, have to convey the germs of spiritual wisdom to the dsiciple by means of words (Mantras)…

  • Bhakti Yoga 6: Incarnate Teachers and Incarnation

    Bhakti Yoga 6: Incarnate Teachers and Incarnation

    This is the sixth chapter in the series on Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. Wherever His name is spoken, that very place is holy. How much more so is the man who speaks His name, and with what veneration ought we to approach that man out of whon comes to us spiritual truth! Such great…

  • Bhakti Yoga 5: Qualifications of the Aspirant and The Teacher

    Bhakti Yoga 5: Qualifications of the Aspirant and The Teacher

    This is the fifth chapter in the series of Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. How are we to know a teacher, then? The sun requires no torch to make him visible, we need not light a candle in order to see him. When the sun rises, we instinctively become aware of the fact, and when…

  • Bhakti Yoga 4: The Need Of A Guru

    Bhakti Yoga 4: The Need Of A Guru

    This is the fourth chapter in the series on Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. Every soul is destined to be perfect, and every being, in the end, will attain the state of perfection. Whatever we are now is the result of our acts and thoughts in the past; and whatever we shall be in the…

  • Bhakti Yoga 3: Spiritual Realization, The Aim of Bhakti-Yoga

    Bhakti Yoga 3: Spiritual Realization, The Aim of Bhakti-Yoga

    This is the 3rd chapter on the Bhakti Yoga series by Swami Vivekananda. To the Bhakta (devotee) these dry details are necessary only to strengthen his will; beyond that they are of no use to him. For he is treading on a path which is fitted very soon to lead him beyond the hazy turbulent…

  • What is Bhakti Yoga?

    What is Bhakti Yoga?

    An often asked question among many Yoga enthusiasts and practitioners is – What is Bhakti Yoga? In this post, we’ll understand what is Bhakti Yoga in simple bulleted points taking references from the 1st chapter of the Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda Bhakti Yoga – Definition Bhakti-Yoga is a real, genuine search after the Lord,…

  • Bhakti Yoga 2: Philosophy of Ishvara – Swami Vivekananda

    Bhakti Yoga 2: Philosophy of Ishvara – Swami Vivekananda

    This is the 2nd chapter of the series on Bhakti Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. Bhakti Yoga is one of the key literary works by Swami Vivekananda, where he has discussed the path of devotion (bhakti) in detail. Who is Ishvara (god)? Janmadyasya yatah — “From whom is the birth, continuation, and dissolution of the universe,” — He is…