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A True Devotee Knows No Fear

The true bhakta knows no fear. He worships because he loves to worship. He is not driven by fear. When he worships, he knows what he is doing. It is not blind worship. Love and knowledge are consolidated in his devotion. And therefore he stands on firm ground. First let me know the Truth and then, if I wish, I shall worship. Not in obedience to others, not in imitation, but because I am firmly convinced that bhakti is true happiness. The bhakta as well as the jnani is devoted to Truth. They both love Truth and they both become united with Truth. Such a bhakta stands immovable like the Himalayas. He cannot be swayed by every breeze that blows about him. His bhakti is his life. He cannot give it up. It has become part of himself. Even unconsciously he worships. He does not re quire any external forms or rites. Love is in his heart. There Bhagavan dwells constantly, and he never forgets it. He always remembers his beloved Bhagavan.

The twelfth chapter of Bhagavad Gita is called the chapter on Bhakti Yoga, or The Path of Devotion. It is short, but is very much liked by the devo tees. It is very pleasing to them. Especially beautiful is the end of this chapter, when Bhagavan Sri Krishna gives a description of the true bhakta, who is so dear to Him. How ignorant are the people who criticize Vedanta and the Hindu religion in general as being devoid of morals! What higher ethics can we find in any scriptures? What higher code of morality can we conceive of than that given in the last part of the twelfth chapter? Not to hate any being, to be kind to all, to be free from selfishness and egotism, unmoved by praise and censure, contented and steady-minded, following God’s commands and be entirely de voted to Him – the man who embodies these qualities is a holy man in deed. And such a man, Bhagavan says, is dear to Him. He is a true bhakta.