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This Sunday's Talk
The Bhakta's Method of Meditation
with Br. Shankara
May 2, 11am to 12noon
Join us via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/y7veshzt
This Sunday morning, May 2, from 11am-noon Br. Shankara will speak with us on “The Bhakta’s Method of Meditation.” Join us on Zoom, and participate in the discussion!
May is a month for study of Bhakti Yoga. A bhakti yogi (bhakta) has a devotional relationship with God. This is developed over time by study, prayer, ritual, and worship. As a bhakta, you practice giving every action, thought, emotion, perception and tendency “a Godward turn.” Everything you are, both positive and negative, is offered to the Divine Presence.
Your prayer is for the carefree self-surrender of a child in its Mother or Father’s arms and, finally, union with your Belovèd. In that state, no barrier of ego remains — the devotee becomes one with the Divine Presence in all-embracing love.
“O Thou who stealest the hearts of Thy devotees, do with me what Thou wilt, for Thou art my heart’s belovèd, Thou and Thou alone.”
— from Chaitanya’s Prayer
Definitions: meditation, bhakti yoga, and the bhakta
Swami Prabhavananda, from his instructions on meditation: The chosen ideal is you, yourself — no different. Learn to feel that living presence.
A paraphrase of Father Richard Rohr:
Meditation is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a way of being — a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even of enjoying the Presence. The devotee is not just aware of God's Loving Presence, but trusts, allows, and delights in it.
Bhakti yoga is the devotional path to God- or Self-Realization. One who follows this path is a lover of God — a bhakta, or devotee.
Sri Ramakrishna said, “…You should remember that the heart of the devotee is the abode of God. He dwells, no doubt, in all beings, but He especially manifests Himself in the heart of the devotee. … The heart of the devotee is the ‘drawing-room’ of God.
“… Bhaktas accept all the states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, and dreamless sleep). … They say that the universe is a manifestation of God's power and glory.… He is within us, in our hearts. Again, He is outside.
"Do you know how a lover of God feels? His attitude is: 'O God, Thou are the Master, and I am Thy servant. Thou art the Mother, and I am Thy child.' Or again: 'Thou art my Father and Mother. Thou art the Whole, and I am a part.’” —from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Ch. 5
Typically, a bhakta’s method of meditation will center on one of these relationships to God.
On Sunday morning we’ll explore how this heartfelt relationship begins, and how — through meditation and other spiritual practices — it becomes a deeply God-centered way of life.
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