среда, 15 октября 2014 г.

GOD’S HAPPINESS


The following passage is from "Shri Vallabhacharya His Philosophy and Religion" by Prof. Jethalal G.Shan (page 167):

In His Subodhini commentary, Vallabhacharya attaches following conditions to Devotion (Bhakti):

1. It must be spontaneous and motiveless and uninterrupted.

2. It must mollify the heart, so that it may feel for God.

3. It is expressed through service of God with love, not merely passive love.

4. It is independent of knowledge. In the state of suffering pangs of separation from God, even remembrance of God’s glories, is deemed as an obstruction to the experiencing of God’s love (Nirodha Lakshana).

5. Its aim is God’s Happiness.

6. It does not recognise barriers of caste, creed or colour.

7. It is independent of time or place. Any time or place is favourable to its expression.

8. It requires complete engagement of all our senses and mind in God.

9. It cannot have its rise in the heart of a man filled with pride.

10. Sexual love or lust paralyses Bhakti. It is like poison in a milk-pot and is inimical to Dharma.

11. If there is pure love, no conformity to the scriptures is necessary. Even transgression of scriptural prescriptions or ethical rules do not come in the way of God’s Grace.