What is meant by faith in the Absolute Truth? What if some people have developed faith in the Scriptures; although their natures are not elevated? Are such people also eligible for Bhakti?
Faith in the Absolute Truth is pure-hearted faith in Bhagavan, which gives rise to a spontaneous attempt to attain Him. Unreal faith is that which is based on an erroneous conception of Bhagavan, which arises in an impure heart on seeing worldly activities, and which gives rise to self-interested endeavors rooted in pride, prestige, and worldly desires.
Sraddha (faith), is the only cause of eligibility for bhakti. Nature is the cause of eligibility for karma, but not for bhakti. This is clearly stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.27-28):
“A practitioner of bhakti who has developed faith in narrations about Me, and who is disgusted with all kinds of fruitive activity, may still be unable to give up material enjoyment and the desire for such enjoyment. Knowing that such so-called pleasures are actually sources of misery he should condemn himself while attempting to enjoy them. Thereafter, in due course of time, he may be able to worship Me with love, faith and fixed determination.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.29-30)
“When the practitioner of bhakti constantly worships me by the method of bhakti-yoga that I have described, I come and sit in his heart. As soon as I am established there, all material desires and the impressions, on which the material desires are based are destroyed. When the practitioner of bhakti directly sees Me as Paramatma situated in the hearts of all living entities, the knot of the false ego in his heart is pierced, all of his doubts are cut to pieces, and his desires for fruitive activities are completely eradicated.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam (11. 20. 32-33)
“Whatever results are obtained with great difficulty through fruitive activities, austerity, knowledge, renunciation, practice of yoga, charity, religious duties, and all other auspicious types of methods one adopts in order to obtain a spiritual goal; are easily obtained by My devotees through the power of bhakti-yoga. Although my devotees are free from all ambition, they could easily obtain promotion to the celestial planets, or attain liberation, or residence in Vaikuntha, if they at all desired such things.”
This is the systematic development of bhakti-yoga that arises from faith.
What is meant by faith in the Absolute Truth? What if some people have developed faith in the Scriptures; although their natures are not elevated? Are such people also eligible for Bhakti?
Faith in the Absolute Truth is pure-hearted faith in Bhagavan, which gives rise to a spontaneous attempt to attain Him. Unreal faith is that which is based on an erroneous conception of Bhagavan, which arises in an impure heart on seeing worldly activities, and which gives rise to self-interested endeavors rooted in pride, prestige, and worldly desires.
Sraddha (faith), is the only cause of eligibility for bhakti. Nature is the cause of eligibility for karma, but not for bhakti. This is clearly stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.27-28):
“A practitioner of bhakti who has developed faith in narrations about Me, and who is disgusted with all kinds of fruitive activity, may still be unable to give up material enjoyment and the desire for such enjoyment. Knowing that such so-called pleasures are actually sources of misery he should condemn himself while attempting to enjoy them. Thereafter, in due course of time, he may be able to worship Me with love, faith and fixed determination.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.29-30)
“When the practitioner of bhakti constantly worships me by the method of bhakti-yoga that I have described, I come and sit in his heart. As soon as I am established there, all material desires and the impressions, on which the material desires are based are destroyed. When the practitioner of bhakti directly sees Me as Paramatma situated in the hearts of all living entities, the knot of the false ego in his heart is pierced, all of his doubts are cut to pieces, and his desires for fruitive activities are completely eradicated.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam (11. 20. 32-33)
“Whatever results are obtained with great difficulty through fruitive activities, austerity, knowledge, renunciation, practice of yoga, charity, religious duties, and all other auspicious types of methods one adopts in order to obtain a spiritual goal; are easily obtained by My devotees through the power of bhakti-yoga. Although my devotees are free from all ambition, they could easily obtain promotion to the celestial planets, or attain liberation, or residence in Vaikuntha, if they at all desired such things.”
This is the systematic development of bhakti-yoga that arises from faith.