95-Importance of Bhakti in Offerings to God | Swami Tattwamayananda

Summary:<br /><br />9th chapter: verse 23, 24, 25, 26, 27<br /><br />23rd and 24th verse: “Depending upon our own mental makeup, we evolve our ideas of God. Those who worship other gods with shraddha – not for highest enlightenment but for material prosperity – in reality, they are worshipping Me, although they are using the wrong method and are not aware of it. To whichever god we pray, the prayer goes to Brahman. Fulfillment also comes from Brahman.”<br /><br />25th verse: “The votaries of different deities, they reach those deities. The one whom you worship, you reach him.”<br /><br />There are two ways that we can think about Absolute Reality. In the early stage, we may look upon it as the presiding deity, as the creator god, that decides the destiny of creation. As we evolve and get closer to the divine within, we develop a higher, universal outlook. At the highest level, we see Absolute Reality as the source of everything.<br /><br />In the Bhagavata Purana, there is a dialog between King Nimi and the Nava Yogis. In answer to the King’s question: “Who is an ideal devotee of God?”, one of the sages gives the following answer: “The one who sees the presence of God in all beings, and who sees the presence of all beings in God.“ This ideal devotee sees the entire creation as one spiritual family.<br /><br />26th verse: “If you offer with bhakti (devotion) even a leaf or flower or fruit or water – I accept it as the devout gift of the pure-hearted devotee.”<br /><br />Bhakti is defined as the spontaneous, natural flow of love towards God. It is not for God’s sake that we love God. Spirituality is the manifestation of higher qualities present in us. When they are developed, our minds naturally turn towards God.<br /><br />Bhakti and purity of heart are what is important – it is what compels the Lord to accept the offering. A big ritual is in no way superior to a leaf offered with a pure heart. What we are offering is not a leaf or flower – we are offering ourselves and our own heart, which is what the Lord cares