Bhakti is Auspicious by Nature (Part 2)
(From "Bhakti Tattva Viveka" - click to read more from it.
You can also read the previous page: Vedas and their purpose)
Srila Rupa Goswami has written that the happiness of the conditioned soul can be divided into three categories: vaishayika-sukha, brahma-sukha and aisvara-sukha.
Vaishayika-sukha is all the varieties of mundane pleasure which are found within this material world.
The eighteen types of mystic perfection and heavenly enjoyment are also considered vaishayika-sukha.
Upon realising that mundane pleasure is ultimately distressful and temporary, the endeavours to eradicate it through the process of neti-neti is called vyatireka or the principle of negation.
The impersonal pleasure derived from these vyatireka efforts through eliminating all mundane feelings and imagining oneself to be one with the unchangeable brahma is called brahma-sukha.
The happiness derived from taking permanent shelter of Bhagavan, who possesses all opulences in full, is called aisvara-sukha.
By nature hari-bhakti bestows all varieties of happiness.
According to one’s specific qualification and desires, it bestows either vaishayika-sukha, brahma-sukha or aisvara-sukha.
siddhayah paramashcarya bhukti-muktish ca shashvati
nityam ca paramanandam bhaved govinda bhaktitah
Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.1.31
“Anima, mahima, laghima, prapti, ishita, vashitva, prakamya and kamavasayita — these eight types of perfections, all varieties of material enjoyment, brahma-sukha and paramananda or the supreme bliss can all be achieved by performing bhakti for Sri Govinda.”
It is written in the Sri Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (and Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.1.32):
bhuyo ’pi yace devesha tvayi bhakti-dridhastu me
ya mokshanta-caturvarga-phalada sukhada lata
“O Lord of the demigods! I repeatedly beg for the boon of attaining exclusive devotion unto You by which, according to their specific qualification, some devotees obtain the fruits of wealth, religiosity, sense gratification and liberation while others obtain the fruit of the happiness of possessing prema for You.”
The purport is that bhakti is capable of bestowing all types of happiness but the unalloyed devotees, considering the pleasure derived from sense gratification and brahma-sukha to be insignificant, search exclusively for prema-sukha.
Without the help of bhakti, the paths of jnana and karma are incapable of yielding any result.
Hence, in any condition, happiness cannot be obtained without bhakti.(from Part 3 – "An Analysis of the Natural Attributes of Bhakti")
Another revelation, Brahma-sutra (Vedanta Sutra). Check out the previous page too: Vedas and their purpose. You will benefit from reading the whole work: Bhakti Tattva Viveka.And now listen to this sound >>
Harih Om Tat Sat.
Natural Brotherhood (Bhaktivinoda Thakura):
"Gradually, when the offensive portions of the established religions are destroyed, there will be no more differences in the bhajana performed by the various Sampradayas nor any quarrel between them.
Then as brothers, the people of all castes and countries will spontaneously chant the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord together.
At that time, no one will hate anyone or consider others dogeaters; nor will anyone be overwhelmed by the pride of high birth.
The living entities will not forget the principle of natural brotherhood."