Bhagwad
Gita
Chapter
12
PATH
OF DEVOTION
SHOULD
ONE WORSHIP A PERSONAL OR AN IMPERSONAL GOD?
Arjuna
asked: Those ever steadfast devotees who worship the personal aspect
of God with form(s), and others who worship the impersonal aspect,
or the formless Absolute; which of these has the best knowledge
of yoga?
Lord
Krishna said: Those ever steadfast devotees who worship with supreme
faith by fixing their mind on a personal form of God, I consider
them to be the best yogis.
But
those who worship the unchangeable, the inexplicable, the invisible,
the omnipresent, the inconceivable, the unchanging, the immovable,
and the formless impersonal aspect of God; restraining all the senses,
even-minded under all circumstances, engaged in the welfare of all
creatures, also attain God.
REASONS
FOR WORSHIPPING A PERSONAL FORM OF GOD
Self-realization
is more difficult for those who fix their mind on the impersonal,
unmanifest, and formless Absolute; because, comprehension of the
unmanifest by embodied beings is attained with difficulty.
For
those who worship the Supreme with unswerving devotion as a personal
deity of their choice, offer all actions to Me, intent on Me as
the Supreme, and meditate on Me; I swiftly become their savior ¾
from the world that is the ocean of death and transmigration ¾
whose thoughts are set on My personal form, O Arjuna.
FOUR
PATHS TO GOD
Therefore,
focus your mind on Me, and let your intellect dwell upon Me alone
through meditation and contemplation. Thereafter you shall certainly
attain Me.
If
you are unable to focus your mind steadily on Me, then long to attain
Me by practice of any other spiritual discipline; such as a ritual,
or deity worship that suits you.
If
you are unable even to do any spiritual discipline, then be intent
on performing your duty just for Me. You shall attain perfection
by doing your prescribed duty for Me — without any selfish
motive — just as an instrument to serve and please Me.
If
you are unable to do your duty for Me, then just surrender unto
My will, and renounce the attachment to, and the anxiety for, the
fruits of all work — by learning to accept all results as
God's grace — with equanimity.
KARMA-YOGA
IS THE BEST WAY TO START WITH
The
transcendental knowledge of scriptures is better than mere ritualistic
practice; meditation is better than scriptural knowledge; renunciation
of selfish attachment to the fruits of work (Karma-yoga) is better
than meditation; peace immediately follows renunciation of selfish
motives.
THE
ATTRIBUTES OF A DEVOTEE
One
who does not hate any creature, who is friendly and compassionate,
free from the notion of "I" and "my", even-minded
in pain and pleasure, forgiving; and who is ever content, who has
subdued the mind, whose resolve is firm, whose mind and intellect
are engaged in dwelling upon Me, who is devoted to Me, is dear to
Me.
The
one by whom others are not agitated and who is not agitated by others,
who is free from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety, is also dear to Me.
One
who is desireless, pure, wise, impartial, and free from anxiety;
who has renounced the doership in all undertakings; such a devotee
is dear to Me.
One
who neither rejoices nor grieves, neither likes nor dislikes, who
has renounced both the good and the evil, and is full of devotion;
is dear to Me.
The
one who remains the same towards friend or foe, in honor or disgrace,
in heat or cold, in pleasure or pain; who is free from attachment;
who is indifferent to censure or praise; who is quiet, and content
with whatever he or she has; unattached to a place, a country, or
a house; equanimous, and full of devotion ¾ that person is
dear to Me.
ONE
SHOULD SINCERELY TRY TO DEVELOP DIVINE QUALITIES
But
those faithful devotees, who set Me as their supreme goal and follow
— or just sincerely try to develop — the above mentioned
nectar of moral values are very dear to Me.
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