A practitioner of bhakti yoga regards God as being present in every person or sentient being. By ardently embracing some of yoga's devotional practices, Seitz—a 55-year-old editor in Manhattan—has developed a sweet sense of connection with the Divine that permeates her entire life through Bhakti Yoga. This could be a religious exercise, similar to biblical / God meditation, but it can also be about love and devotion for non-religious entities. For instance, someone who is not religious might practice Bhakti yoga by meditating on a natural element, like water, or by meditating on a personal item that means a lot to them, such as a family heirloom. Sit still for a few moments, gradually returning to your normal state. They are happy to give credit to others and interested simply in doing their best to give pleasure to the divine and benefit others.”. You are merging to become one. Remember that the Bhakti yoga practice is a method for oneness, so whatever object you meditate on you will be aiming to become one with. Although this element of yoga is not as well known as asana practice, it has grown in popularity over the last few years. Playfulness (not all meditation subjects have to be serious). It comes from the Sanskrit word ‘bhakti’ which is derived from bhaj which means ”divide or participate”. Correct physical alignment will help your energy (chi / qi / life force) to flow through your body freely. By completely dedicating and surrendering all to the Divine, every small act in an individual’s daily life is symbolized as an act of worship. Bhakti yoga, as explained thoroughly in the Bhakti Sutras, is both a means and the end. The divine light will flow to the individual and he will be able to experience the fullness of joy and all the blockages and barriers of the inner self will be removed, only peace and love occupies the heart and mind. Bhakti also became very popular in Theravada Buddhism, where monks would use the technique to show devotion to Buddha. This Bhakti meditation technique is a powerful means of personal and spiritual transformation. Paul has helped thousands of people to discover their true potential through mindfulness, yoga and meditation. You might also like to try these contemplation exercises. The word “bhakti” means devotion or love. Sit comfortably and with good posture. Green, for instance, reflect nature and health, where black represents power and authority, and yellow happiness. Meditate on your subject in the traditional sense. Bhakti Yoga Reconnecting with Yoga’s Original Intention. It is the yogic path that complements other paths as well; by practicing it an individual is able to understand other paths more easily. Follow these steps for proper Karma Yoga Bhakti practice. In this state, the individual will be able to unite with the Absolute Reality. For instance, Hindus will practice Bhakti yoga while focusing on one of the Hindu gods. When you do Bhakti yoga meditation, you are aiming to become one with an object, person or God. So let’s discuss how to practice Bhakti yoga the modern way. For freedom, meditate on water. Different colours reflect different mentalities and emotions. All the first seven practices are recommended for intermediate practitioners, with special focus on sravanam and kirtanam. According to St John of the Cross, the Desert is also known as the “the dark night of the soul.” The spiritual path has to undergo the process of growth and deepening. Welcome to Best In Yoga! This gave rise to the Bhakti Movement and to the different Bhakti yoga practices you have heard about. One of the four main yogic paths to enlightenment is Bhakti yoga. This stage is the initial phase of an individual’s devotion. The Bhagavad Gita, variously dated to have been composed in 5th to 2nd century BCE, introduces bhakti yoga in combination with karma yoga and jnana yoga, while the Bhagavata Purana expands on bhakti yoga, offering nine specific activities for the bhakti yogi. The requirement when practicing Bhakti yoga is for the individual to have a loving heart and devotion. It is well known as the yoga of love. This is very similar to the Buddhist method Samatha. Today, Bhakti yoga practices can take many forms, and they do not have to be done as devotion or worship, as they traditionally were. Bhakti is part of a trinity of meditations. External forms of worship are involved in the process, wherein an individual may build an altar where he can worship the Divine. This process can be likened to a small seed staying underneath the soil in order for it to blossom into a plant. During this period the movement was heavily influenced by the development of Hindu and Indian culture, reaching so far as to make its impact upon Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Christianity. Shanta – Peaceful emotion Dasya – Servant devotee In the 7th century and 10th century in India, Hindus meditated in devotion to Vishnu and Shiva. The term itself literally means to “show devotion and love to”. We hope you love the products we recommend and review! 5 Powerful Prenatal Affirmations For A Peaceful Pregnancy. The great exponent of Bhakti Yogi in 15th-16th c. India known as Sri Krishna Caitanya encouraged everyone to practice by chanting whatever holy names of God they knew, such as Allah or Jehova or Christ or Elohim or Buddha. The subject of your bhakti meditation practice should reflect the trait you wish to develop in yourself. Chanting, or speaking about, Krishna's transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes, … Paul Harrison is a qualified meditation teacher and writer with more than 15 years experience in meditation and mindfulness. Then meditate on it. In this article, we’ll be looking at how to practice Bhakti yoga meditation properly, and the benefits you will get out of it.