Devotion is an Expression of the Mind and Intelligence

In this talk, Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha very emphatically says that devotion does not depend on faith on an infinitely distant God. Instead, devotion is an expression of the human mind and intelligence, and by its pursuit the entire inner being should get transformed mentally, emotionally and intellectually. This is also what the ancient scriptures have been constantly declaring.

Quoting the example of the legendary devotee Meera, Swamiji stresses that it was her exclusive resolve, inner strength of devotion that did not affect her, even when she consumed poison. Pareekshit did not perform any physical devotional practices, but only wholesomely listened with rapt attention to the narration, that totally purified him and subsequently he dissolved into his innermost being with an enlightened and enriched mind and intelligence.

Swamiji inspires all of us also to focus on transforming our mind and intelligence rather than resorting to practices with our physical faculties, in order to be an enlightened devotees like Pareekshit, Arjuna and Sri Rama.

PR 27 Jul 2015