What does one achieve by devotion?

The obvious outcome of selfless devotion to God is getting closer to God. Getting closer to God is fine. But is that all?

Many people who are totally miserable in life, who are hounded by problems with no one to their rescue, are least interested in getting closer to God – whatever that may mean.

Their day to day problems are staring at them. Faith in God may or may not solve their problems. But it would definitely put them in a mental state that makes them better equipped to handle those problems.

Many a times, reasoning, rationality, analysis mean nothing. A rationalist may argue that one should try to solve one’s problem rather than depend on some non existing God.

Question is not whether God exists or does not exist. What matters is whether there is anything that is gained by assuming that God exists.

What a rationalist fails to understand is that human beings are not all logic and analysis. They are often emotional creatures. You can do nothing in some emotional states of the mind.

You need some assurance that your efforts are going to be successful; and there is someone who would take care of you and make sure that you will succeed. That gives a ray of hope in an otherwise gloomy scenario.

The Bhagavad geetha says

“God takes every care of a person who completely surrenders to him. He not only bestows him with whatever is due to him, but also protects him from all problems he may face.

God is impartial to all. He is neither anyone’s enemy nor he shows any special interest in any specific individual. He always associates himself with whoever is completely devoted to him. He is always with them and they are always with him.

Even if a evil doer surrenders to God and worships him with full devotion, God does not forsake such a person just because he had done some sin. That is because such a person will sooner or later give up all his wrong doing and move on the righteous path. He will eventually attain peace. He will not end up in self destruction.

So, anyone who always thinks of God, is devoted to God, worships him alone, and totally surrenders to him, he will finally attain God - there is absolutely no doubt that.”


But worship etc. may involve lot of rituals and material implements? Not really, as we see in the next post.

Start    Prev    Next 
 

Based on verses 9.22, 9.29, 9.30, 9.31,9.34 of Bhagavad Geetha, one of the most quoted and widely translated of the ancient Indian scriptures, believed to have been composed by Vyasa as part of the great Indian Epic Mahabharata, 5000 years ago. The interpretation of the verses and audio recital are by Dr.King (Copyright © 2018 Dr. King)