I hope you read this message of mine. I have been initiated a year and half ago. I am trying to follow precepts laid by Sri Ramakrishna Thakur. I found this talk of yours so so enriching, fulfilling and motivating; i am truly blessed. Pranams .. stay well.
Beautiful lecture, liked the desc of Kalpataru day at Cossipore Udyan Bati so much. Very well maintained, and on a normal day, is a very serene experience.
Thank you, Swamiji 🙏 Brilliant talk. I have a confusion when one says Bhakti requires no preparations. Without listening to vedanta / gospel or any higher spiritual texts, how does anyone know the importance of discernment, what to pray for, or even have the urge to pray? All life one may spend only praying for things and comforts (preyas) and think that they are Bhaktas. To me it feels like some study or sravana (by God's grace) is needed to direct ourselves to cultivate viveka, vairagya etc., for bhakti of this superior kind - प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रिय: (Bg 7.17). Why do I hear that Bhakti doesn't need preparations?
Prayer is not that simple. Prayer with a simple & sincere heart, most importantly yearning is that ,what is required to be true bhakta. Once such true yearning is there ,God knows how to lead that bhakta towards Him if He thinks that suits him ,God may lead him through studying scriptures also. Hence ,studying scriptures is not a prerequisite, it will come to him ( if required),when a kitten like dependency is on God .
Does the child prepare mind to love caring/loving parents? It takes discernment to find a reason to love or not love, but true devotion/bhakti comes naturally knowing/conviction THAT IS the only relevant thing. When devotion does not come naturally we pray for that Bhakti which makes us love unconditionally.
An extraordinary explanation! Definitely added new dimensions about the speciality of that day,mainly how to proceed towards kalpataru. But ,Maharaj, baby monkeys hold to their mothers ,not to their fathers ,so that correction is needed please .
