Hour 53 Meditation – Bhakti Meditation – Dissolving into the Divine
Bhakti Meditation – Dissolving into the Divine
Introduction: The Path of the Heart
In the enormous forest of spiritual disciplines, there is one stream that glides like honey water — the path of devotion, or Bhakti Yoga. Where other paths speak to reason (Jnana), energy (Kundalini), or quiet (Dhyana), Bhakti reaches the heart directly through love — unmediated, plain, and natural.
Bhakti Meditation is the practice of dissolving into the Divine — through song, prayer, surrender, and longing. It has nothing to do with discipline, but with dissolving. The “I” does not attempt to evolve — it gives itself up entirely to something greater.
This module examines how Bhakti becomes a great gateway to meditation, leading not to silence of the mind, but to the vanishing of the ego in love.
What Is Bhakti?
- Bhakti (भक्ति): Devotion, Love, Participation, Surrender
- Root “Bhaj”: To share, to adore, to belong
Bhakti, in its very essence, is being owned by the Divine.
It is not a detached meditation of the mind — it is a flame of the heart.
It is yearning to unite, not merely be peaceful. Emotion is not stifled — it is purified into holy love.
Foundations of Bhakti in the Indian Tradition
Bhakti has blossomed in numerous great Indian books and traditions:
- Bhagavad Gita
- “To the devoted soul, I am easily attained.” (9.22)
- “Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me… you will come to Me.” (18.65)
- Bhagavata Purana
- Through saintly stories of Prahlada, Dhruva, Mirabai, and the Gopis
- Ramayana
- Hanuman’s unselfish and uncompromising devotion to Lord Rama
- Bhakti Poets and Saints
- Kabir, Tukaram, Surdas, Andal, Tulsidas, Lalla — each lived Bhakti as meditation in motion
The Nine Forms of Bhakti (Navadha Bhakti)
All of the following are complete paths in themselves — and may become a meditation when done with love and sincerity:
- Shravanam – Hearing divine stories, scriptures, mantras, or kirtans
- Kirtanam – Singing the Divine’s name and glories
- Smaranam – Remembering God all the time
- Paada Sevanam – Humble service to the Divine’s feet (symbolically or through seva)
- Archanam – Symbolic worship and ritual offerings
- Vandanam – Bowing and prayer in reverence
- Daasyam – Service as a servant of the Lord, offering oneself
- Sakhyam – Friendship with God — perceiving the Divine as your best friend
- Atma Nivedanam – Complete self-surrender; giving your entire being to the Divine
One form practiced with bhava (devotion) alone is sufficient to melt separation.
Bhakti as Meditation: Core Techniques
- Japa with Feeling: Chant the name of the Divine not mechanically but with love and connection.
- Bhajan/Kirtan: Sing divine names and praises joyfully — let music dissolve the ego.
- Prayerful Surrender: Whisper words like “I am Thine, Thou art mine,” and melt into devotion.
- Visualizing the Beloved: Meditate on the form of Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Devi, or your chosen deity.
- Lover and Beloved Silence: Sit in stillness, inwardly gazing at the Divine, like Radha longing for Krishna.
Here, emotion is not a perturbation — it is the vehicle to union.
Bhakti vs. Other Meditation Methods
- Jnana Yoga
- Means: Self-inquiry, intellect
- Goal: Realization of the Self as Brahman
- Raja Yoga
- Means: Mind control, quietness
- Goal: Samadhi (absorptive awareness)
- Karma Yoga
- Means: Selfless action
- Goal: Purification of ego and detachment
- Bhakti Yoga
- Means: Love, surrender, devotion
- Goal: Union through emotional absorption in the Divine
In Bhakti, the ego is not overcome — it is lovingly dissolved.
Steps of Bhakti Meditation
- Longing: A draw closer to the Divine — as with the Gopis yearning for Krishna.
- Expression of the Feelings: Song, weeping, smiling — allowing the heart to run freely.
- Remembrance: Keeping close to mind and heart the Divine during the daytime.
- Absorption (Bhava Samadhi): Brief moments where ego disappears in god remembrance.
- Oneness: No distance left now — devotee and the Beloved merge.
Bhakti Meditation in Everyday Life
- Morning: Sing a bhajan of brief length or sing your mantra filled with affection.
- Midday: Take a 1-minute silence and whisper God’s name.
- Evening: Light a candle in your mind as an offering to the Divine.
- Before Sleep: Recite a simple prayer — “Let me rest in You tonight.”
Reminiscences of Saints and Scriptures
- Ramdas: “When I forgot myself in the Name of Rama, I found myself.”
- Mirabai: “My Beloved speaks inside me. I hear Him in every heartbeat.”
- Kabir: “Between the worshiper and the worshiped, there is no curtain — only love.
- Tukaram: “Why fear, when Vitthala dwells in my heart?”
Bhakti and Transformation
Deeply practiced, Bhakti Meditation results in:
- Inner gentleness and kindness
- Release from anxiety and domination
- Ever presence of the Beloved in every activity
- Spiritual intoxication (Prem Bhava)
- Integration of the ego in divine presence
Reflective Questions
- Do I identify the Divine as a parent, friend, beloved, or guide?
- What takes place when I sing the name of God with affection?
- Can I just sit in quiet and feel the Beloved presence?
- Have I wept — not from pain, but from yearning for the Divine?
Daily Practice Tip
Select a simple mantra or divine name (e.g., Rama, Shiva, Ma, Jesus, Allah)
Sit with it every day for 10 minutes, not merely repeating it but feeling it soften your heart
Sing your favorite bhajan every week — let your entire self become the offering
Poetic Reflection
“O my mind, sing the name of the Beloved —
In that song, let yourself disappear.
You were never the singer.
You were always the song.”