Monday, Feb 01, 2010 This week’s Food for Thought – February 1, 2010

ANYASMAT SAULABHYAM BHAKTAU

“The path of love and devotion is the easiest way to attain the Divine.”

—Bhakti Sutras of Narada (verse 58)

The path of love and devotion, bhakti yoga, is the path of the heart.  It is our deep longing to become one with that which is eternal and unchanging. By attaining the purest, highest state of unconditional love, we can overcome our sense of pain and separation and experience an abiding inner peace and joy.

The 84 aphorisms of the Bhakti Sutras, written by the sage Narada, is the principal text of this path.  According to Narada, bhakti is the easiest way to attain the Divine, because it is our very nature to love and to be loved.  However, we often want others to care for us, to heal us, to make us whole—and are constantly disappointed when our expectations are not met.  But if we can begin to see those around us as manifestations of the Divine, and start treating them the way we want to be treated, then our worldly relationships are transformed into spiritual ones.  As we learn to love others without conditions, without expectations, without selfishness, we start to see the face of  Divinity reflected in their eyes.

Gradually, as we learn to let go of our sense of duality, we experience a complete openness with others, for we come to understand that we are all the same, there is no separation.  That is the highest state of realization—the true nature of love.

—Irene (Aradhana) Petryzak

TIP OF THE WEEK:   Want to stay warm and energized?  Instead of depending on caffeine, which stresses the adrenals, try this ayurvedic tea.  Bring 8 cups of water to a boil.  Pour it into a thermos with 3 thin slices of fresh ginger, 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds, 2 black peppercorns, and a few mint leaves.  Steep for an hour and sip slowly through the day.