The path of bhajate, service with love and faith. Spiritual practice focused on loving devotion towards a personal God or higher Self.
The word “bhakti” has started to become more common in the context of yoga. It might be useful to talk a little what bhakti-yoga is and how it differs from so many other styles of yoga. In today’s world there is a big emphasis on the physical aspect of yoga, which I call the “outer practices”. Bhakti-yoga could then naturally fall more into the “inner practices” category.
Bhakti-Yoga is one of the three spiritual paths described in the Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord). Bhakti or “love of God” is the natural state of a living being. Bhakti-Yoga has many stages to it, to simplify, we could say that bhakti-yoga is meditation and service with love and devotion. The Bhagavad Gita emphasises the love aspect while the Upanishads the meditative aspect – the two surely must go hand in hand.
Bhakti is sort of cultivation. In order to cultivate we need action. Cultivation of spirituality does not only mean sitting down silently in meditation. We should feel enthusiastic [utsāhāt] towards our spiritual practice and enthusiasm means action. How do we then take action on the bhakti path?
On the path of bhakti-yoga, śravanam, or hearing, is the first step in acquiring transcendental knowledge.
tad viddhi pranipātena | paripraśnena sevayā | upadeksyanti te jñānam | jñãninas tattva-darśinah
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him/her submissively and render service unto him/her. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he/she has seen the truth.” The bhakti path does stress patience. It is said that when by good fortune one comes in contact with a pure devotee and hears from him/her patiently, one begins to follow the path of devotional service. Such an opportunity is offered to a person who is sincere.
The second step is kirtanam, devotional chanting to the divine. This connection with the Higher Self is also known as nada yoga – the yoga of sound. We can lose ourselves in sound and experience a sense of pleasure, joy and freedom. We can chant either longer mantras (traditionally in the ancient language of sanskrit) or just simply “OM” [AUM], the primordial bija or seed sound.
Our spiritually conscious activities require both patience and confidence. In devotional service surrender means that one has to become confident. The devotee does trust that the path will protect and help him/her.
A bhakti-yogi chooses to live a clean and simple life style following the yamas and niyamas or the ethical guidelines and positive regulative principles for personal- and social living. A bhakti-yogi uses the japa-mālā beads for daily chanting meditation. It goes without saying that a bhakti-yogi respects all life and chooses a violence- and cruelty free living by choosing not to harm any living beings in words, thoughts or actions. A bhakti-yogi loves all the living beings including the animals and therefore naturally chooses a vegetarian diet.
We eventually come to the understanding that we all are individual jivas (souls) and simultaneously a part and parcel of Paramãtmã, the Supreme Soul.
I personally love to incorporate a bhakti-fragrance to my yoga classes. This could mean sharing the dharma, or the philosophy and chanting together with or without the music. If you are keen to learn more about the yoga philosophy and bhakti you can join our Radiantly Alive Yoga Teacher Trainings L1, where I teach the yoga philosophy blocks.
“In Bhakti we Trust”
Love, Sanna
Sanna first discovered bhakti-yoga as a 15 year old living in Helsinki. She was drawn into a Krishna devotee temple and was given a copy of the first Finnish translation of the ‘Bhagavad Gita as it is’. She was instantly captivated by the music and chanting. Many years later living in Berlin, she met Jai Utal and her interest in kirtan and bhakti-yoga blossomed and eventually led to the discovery of Vijay Krsna and the Kirtaniyas. Sanna makes an annual ‘pilgrimmage’ to Vrindavan India with the Kirtaniyas to keep the fire of bhakti burning brighter and stronger.
Sanna is hugely inspired by her Indian classical music teacher Radhika Manchanda who has patiently guided her in traditional Indian singing and Indian harmonium. Sanna loves the role of a student and has a huge respect to all her Teachers and Sanghas from London to Vrindavan.
Sanna incorporates a bhakti-fragrance into many of her yoga classes with sharing the dharma, or the yoga philosophy and chanting the mantras.
In July 2021, Sanna will lead the annual Lumø retreat with Vijay Krsna on a beautiful Finnish west coast island. Participants can enjoy a range of yoga, kirtan, bhakti, yoga philosophy and traditional Finnish sauna + sea culture, natural healing and garden to table vegetarian cooking. Contact Sanna for details.