In Swami Vivekananda’s Bhakti Yoga (found under Volume III, Para-Bhakti or Supreme Devotion), he discusses some of the various forms in which love is displayed. To make it easier for us to understand the different forms of bhakti for God, he discussed the love a man or a woman has for his or her beloved.
I found it amazing how Swamiji wass able to effortlessly explain to us Bhakti in a way that many of us can understand. I can say that I understand all of the ideas that he discussed in the chapter. However, for some reason or the other, I do not think I would be able to practice those ideas.
It’s not that I hate God. I respect God. I am grateful to God. But I don’t love God.
Any thoughts?
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I’ve always rationalized it to myself saying that love for God comes with time…In any case, I think my view of God is a little different– I respect the idea of an ideal, of some higher power that I do respect, and love — but I don’t know whether to call that force/feeling/idea/inspiration God, or to just leave it as an unnamed source of inspiration in my mind. For me, God is just the feeling of peace and fulfillment that I am occasionally lucky enough to feel, you know? And I do respect and love the source of that feeling.
Thoughts?
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