Jnana Marga or Bhakti Marga…?
Friday, November 1st, 2013
Bhakti is Pure Love… and without Pure Love one cannot reach Godhood. Whichever the path one follows, everything sprouts from Bhakti, Pure Love… While all paths lead to the same goal, in a Divine discourse delivered on 21st August 1996, Bhagawan, through two beautiful stories, certifies Bhakti Marga over Jnana Marga, with the first being more easier owing to the complexities involved in the latter path, tor the men of present day to reach the Ultimate Goal…
There were two brothers, Jnanadeva and Bhaktideva. Both were going on a journey. On the way, they felt thirsty. Bhaktideva asked Jnanadeva, “I am thirsty but I cannot see water anywhere.” Jnanadeva said: “Let us see whether there is any well nearby.” After going some distance, they noticed an old well with water deep at the bottom.
Jnanadeva declared: “Jnanaath-eva-thu-kaivalyam” (Through Wisdom anything can be accomplished).
He immediately assumed the form of a bird, flew down to the water in the well, quenched his thirst and came up. Jnanadeva had the ability to assume any form because of the supreme knowledge of the Self.
Bhaktideva could not get down into the well. He sat near the well and prayed to God with intense love. After sometime, the water in the well rose to the level of his feet. Noting the wetness of his feet, he opened his eyes and saw that the water in the well had overflowed.
Jnana requires a change in one’s form. Bhakti needs no such change. Intense loving devotion will suffice. What the devotee needs will come running to him. There is nothing greater than devotion.
Bhaktideva wrote a letter to Jnanadeva. It was a blank piece of paper which he sent in a cover. When Jnanadeva opened the letter, he found there was no writing on it. Jnanadeva then started writing his reply in page after page. He could not come to the end of his writing. His entire life was spent on enquiry and investigation. There was no time for doing anything practical. The life of most scientists is spent this way: continuous experimentation, with no experience. This sort of endless pre-occupation with enquiry is of no use. Devotion is easier than Jnana marga (the path of Knowledge). Through devotion, constant chanting of the name and loving remembrance of God, anything can be accomplished.
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