Hi,
I have a sincere question..
When doing Bhakti or when not doing it I feel something or sometimes go into the mode of Goodness and I feel like I can talk to God in my heart.
This is becoming a serious problem now because before I was. A positive voice as it were. Now it has become negative and saying I'm not a devotee because people fail out of millions. Just give up because it's impossible. This is me thinking Vishnu in heart is telling me to stop Bhakti.
I will say the voice or thought I should say is only to to with Bhakti. If I'm doing japa I'm usually fine. It's not taking over my life. But it's worrying me a little now.
I want to know how the mode of Goodness can effect Bhakti.. does it make you believe or you become overly clever and stop having faith ? So you would compensate by thinking God is taking to you.
I feel like once I saw God. This may be is when it started.
Replies
Hare Krishna,
Bhakti transcends the three modes. ( Satva, Rajas and tamas) then it is called pure devotion.
Our bhakti is not in the Pure devotion stage right now.
We are all in Mishrit bhakti stage.. ( some times it is Satvik bhakti But many a times it is Mixed up ( mishrit) with Rajas and tamas as well).
1. When a person is operating in a pure satva guna mode of goodness: his mind is-- > 1. at peace. 2. he has clarity of thought and 3. he is focussed at what he is doing right now. ( like if you are chanting you are listening to the syllables in the chant carefully).
2. When the person is operating in satva+ Rajas ( mode of goodness+ mode of passion) his mind is at --> 1. restless and ambition mode.. ( desires are dominating then focussing on the syllables). Seriously you mind is busy in thinking what if Krishna blesses and my business runs better and I can make some profits. Krishna pls. help me get that position in the job... etc. Mind is busy in calculations ( this is bhakti with tint of selfishness).
3. When a person is operating in Satva+ Tamas ( mode of goodness+ Mode of ignorance) his mind is at -> has many doubts, some fear some negative thinking. They are lazy and doing bhakti because they have to do it. Because, some guru told him to do some number of malas a day. so, he has to complete without himself really interested in doing.
Most of us are either in the third category or on the second catergory. Very rarely we going into Pure Satvic bhakti stage ( Purely mode of goodness mode).
Whenever negative thoughts like this is cropping up -- oh stop bhakti.. THAT IS YOUR OWN MIND .. giving instructions to the sense organs and intellect to stop it.
( Parmatma) Vishnu will never tell a devotee to Stop bhakti.
It is our monkey mind who wants to relax and because senses are saying.. oh mind let us enjoy the mateiral world why sit here and chant.? Mind which is already a monkey will listen to senses and tell Intellect ...oh buddhi or intellect stop this bhakti activity let us go watch a movie or do something entertainng to the senses.
The inner .voice is coming from the MIND
MIND when is interested in mayaik activities it is said to be in MAYA.
Hare Krishna.