Unwavering gnanis

May 17, 2015 10:40 pm | Updated 10:40 pm IST

Those who have true bhakti are ones who are devoid of all desires, except the desire to attain His feet. But while many may claim that they have devotion, can their devotion stand the test of temptation?

When we see others in possession of something we want, we become envious. If we had bhakti, we would also have the gnana that earthly possessions are impermanent. When we begin to envy others because of their material possessions, then it means we lack gnana. How then can our bhakti be genuine?

Desires are not so easily got rid of. We may tell ourselves that this is the last thing we will desire, and that after this we will no longer desire anything else. But desire is like the ghee that keeps a sacrificial fire burning. The more ghee that is added, the better does the fire burn. Likewise, the more we give in to our desires, the more we begin to desire other things, and this never stops, said Kidambi Narayanan, in a discourse.

Desires may begin in a small way, but end up becoming huge, just as a small seed grows into the huge banyan tree. Real bhakti is like the oil which we pour into a vessel. The oil flows evenly. In the same way, our bhakti should remain steady even in the face of difficulties.

We must not lose faith in the Supreme One the moment we face troubles in life. Sometimes we say that this life no longer holds any attraction for us. But that may be because of a temporary difficulty.

Once the trouble is past, we again fall prey to desires. So the gnani is one who always has equanimity of temper and is unwavering in his bhakti, no matter what trials he faces in life and no matter what the temptations are in his path.

An example of such a person would be Parikshit, who knew he was going to die but did not feel sorry. He said to Sage Suka that the atma was not his and the body was not permanent. So why should he worry about the atma exiting his body?

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