Yoga tells us to become observers of our attachment and aversion – what does bhakti tell?

Transcript

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Please come back. So the Raga and Grisha, the attachment and aversion that is present in our mind, the Yoga literature seems to become an observer so that you can go beyond it.
So what are the bhakti practices for detaching ourselves from our Raga and Grisha? Yes, in bhakti also we are told Raga and Grisha is situated in the senses and the sense objects. There are some foods which we just love. We want it more and more.
Some foods we can’t even tolerate the sight. But it is situated like that. But don’t come under their control.
They will plunder our consciousness. So essentially if we consider that if I am feeling angry at someone, if I am feeling attracted to someone, if I am feeling repelled by someone, so these are emotions that are coming in our mind. Quite often we just identify with the emotions.
And then we act on the emotions. Why did I do that? I should not have done that. So when we become an observer, actually it is not just the Yoga literature.
Bhagavad Gita is also Yoga text. Bhagavad Gita also talks about this point of becoming an observer of our consciousness. I am doing a three-part seminar on mind, mind it, today evening this last part.
Then I am going to speak more about this phenomenon of becoming an observer of our consciousness. So Krishna says that In 14.22 and 23 he says that when different emotions come into our consciousness, we become an observer of them. And we understand these are simply coming because of the mood.
So don’t identify with them. Udaseenavad. Udaseenavad means stay as if detached.
Yes, I am feeling anger now. But this anger is simply coming because of my condition. I will not have to.
So if you become an observer of our emotions, then some emotions we can check. Sometimes we are just passing by some road and we see some shop and some good food is there to eat. We get the desire and we go and eat it.
But if we are more alert, this desire is there, no, I don’t want to do it. So if we can catch the desire before the desire catches us, if we can catch the desire, that means detect the desire has come, before the desire catches us, then we can resist it. So this becoming an observer is good.
However, the Bhagavad Gita, the same section, 14.22 and 23, but three verses later, when he talks about solution in 14.26, it says that don’t just become an observer, it says become a server. Cultivate the mood of service to Krishna. It says that become unflinching in service to Krishna.
And by that we can transcend the world. So one way of transcending the influence of Raga and Resha is by observing. Okay, this is what I don’t want, but it’s coming to me, I’ll neglect it.
Another way, which is a more active way is we focus on a higher cause. We focus on serving Krishna. And I’m determined to serve Krishna no matter what happens.
So even if while doing something I feel bad, I just don’t like to say, go out and talk to people in public. But if my service is to go and distribute books, then I’ll put that Resha aside and I’ll go. Why? Because I want to please Krishna.
I want to please Krishna’s representatives. So becoming an observer requires more of an introvert, introspective, self-motivated nature. Whereas becoming a servant can also work for everyone because we have a higher cause.
Yes, I don’t feel like doing it, but I want to serve Krishna. I want to please Krishna. So that intention to serve Krishna, if that becomes strong, then whatever circumstantial emotion may come in, whether it is attachment or aversion, we will be able to push it aside by the force of our intentions.
So when we come in the association of devotees and we become attached to devotees, we want to serve devotees, we want to serve Krishna. Through the association of devotees, the greatest gift that we can get is a strengthened intention to serve Krishna. If we have got that strong intention to serve Krishna, then what will happen is, even if the Raag or Dvesha comes in the way, the momentum of that intention will push it aside.
It’s like, say, if we are going in a big truck and some donkey comes along in the middle of the road. When the truck is moving very fast, even if the donkey is standing in between, seeing the truck coming so fast, the donkey will move away. On the other hand, if we are going on a bicycle and if a big buffalo comes in the way, then if the truck hits the donkey, the donkey will fall down.
If the bicycle hits the buffalo, the bicycle will fall down. So, if our intention is like the bicycle rides, it’s weak, then when our Raag or Dvesha will come, like a buffalo, it will fall. It will just go away.
But if, with the association of devotees, we are going to cultivate a strong intention to serve Krishna, then that intention will become like a truck and whatever obstacle will go away. So, while cultivating the intention to serve Krishna, if we can use the more of being an observer, that is also good. But we don’t focus simply on being an observer.
We focus on being a contributor, on being a servant of Krishna. And we focus on, this is my service to Krishna, whether I like it or I don’t like it, I will stay committed to it. And that’s how we can go beyond the mind, Raag and Dvesha.
Do any of the mastajis have any questions? Okay. One question. We have only one mic.
Okay. You can ask till then. I’ll repeat.
A lot of pain in my life.