Deceitful Bhakti and Bhakti Free From Deceit

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

(From "Bhakti Tattva Viveka" - click to read more from it.
You can also read the previous page: )

Now, by carefully reviewing all the previous statements, we can understand that to remain uncovered by jnana, karma and so forth — which means accepting them as subservient entities — and engage in the favorable cultivation of activities meant to please Sri Krsna which are devoid of any other desire is called uttama-bhakti.

Bhakti is the only means by which the jiva can obtain transcendental bliss.

Besides bhakti all other methods are external.

With the assistance of bhakti, sometimes karma is identified as aropa-siddha-bhakti or endeavours which are indirectly attributed with the quality of devotion and sometimes jnana is identified as sanga-siddha-bhakti or endeavours associated with or favorable to the cultivation of devotion.

But they can never be accepted as svarupa-siddha-bhakti or bhakti in its constitutionally perfected stage.

Svarupa-siddha-bhakti is kaitava-shunya or free from any deceit and full of unalloyed bliss by nature, meaning that it is devoid of any desires for heavenly enjoyment and the attainment of liberation.

But in aropa-siddha-bhakti the desires for bhukti and mukti remain in a hidden position.

Therefore, it is also called sakaitava-bhakti or deceitful bhakti.

Oh my dear intimate Vaisnavas! By your constitutional nature you are attracted to svarupa-siddha-bhakti and have no taste for aropa-siddha-bhakti or sanga-siddha-bhakti.

Although these two types of devotion are not actually bhakti by their constitution, some people refer to these two types of activities as bhakti.

In fact they are not bhakti, but bhakti-abhasa or the semblance of real bhakti.

If by some good fortune through the practice of bhakti-abhasa one develops shraddha for the true nature of bhakti, then only can such practice transform into shuddha-bhakti.

But this doesn’t happen easily, because by the practice of bhakti-abhasa there exists every possibility of remaining bereft of shuddha-bhakti.

Therefore, in all the scriptures the instruction is to follow svarupa-siddha-bhakti.(from Part 1 – "The Intrinsic Nature of Devotion")

Another revelation, . Check out the previous page too: . You will benefit from reading the whole work: Bhakti Tattva Viveka.

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Harih Om Tat Sat.

Natural Brotherhood (Bhaktivinoda Thakura):

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."


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