The Path of Bhakti
Bhakti (Sanskrit: भक्ति) literally means "attachment”, a state of mind where the devotees surrender him/herself unquestioningly to God.
By this definition, one can see that the concept of Bhakti is not alien to Western culture. In fact, most western religions are Bhakti practices.
“…not my will, but thine, be done.” Says Christ on his knees in Luke 22:44
And such sentiments are very common in the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.)
But what if you don’t trust God?
What if the Goddess has brought pain and suffering into your life?
What if God has allowed terrible things to happen on Earth to innocent beings?
What if the Goddess takes a loved one from me?
In short, how can I devote myself to a supreme being that allows me to suffer?
It’s very simple, as the body/mind, as the singular being in a vast ocean of “other things” the deck will ALWAYS be stacked against us.
We will NEVER be “safe and away from suffering.”
EVER.
If we place our sense of self in the form – in the body/mind - Bhakti always ends up taking the form of “begging” or if you prefer “praying” for the big universe not to crush us like an insect.
Of course, the irony is, that even when we unconsciously step on an insect ourselves, its prayers to the Goddess to not be stepped on are unheard through the heels of our shoes…
And, if we continue to grasp onto the form as our identity one day the heel of the shoe comes for us…
This is a losing proposition and will, in time, make us very dissatisfied with what we perceive to be our path of “bhakti.”
And, certainly, that form of Bhakti will not lead to liberation.
So what is the path where Bhakti does lead to liberation?
Bhakti leads to liberation when we offer the body/mind and all its experiences to the Goddess as hers, not ours.
And then, on our knees, we can join Christ in saying “…not my will, but thine, be done.”
“This is your life, your universe, and your responsibility. I will simply sit and watch as it unfolds. I will join you as a spectator in your game. Thy will, not my will be done…”
When this is done in earnest some amazing absences arise in the form of freedom.
We are no longer carrying the burden of responsibility for outcomes or conditions.
We no longer have to sift through the universe and see what is bad or good.
We no longer have to fight against the inevitability of impermanence in all forms.
We no longer have to plan, plot, or scheme to “get ahead” of other forms that are now seen directly as the Goddess, playing with those forms for her amusement and purpose.
In short, A LOT, of burdens leave our shoulders and we are able to sit with an open heart and quiet mind while simply aware of what is.
It’s quite freeing.
You’ll have to try for yourself to find out.