The spiritual path of devotion to God (bhakti yoga) is one of the three primary approaches to self-realization, which are outlined in Hindu thought. The other paths are the way of selfless action (karma yoga) and the way of wisdom (jnana yoga). On each path, the aspiration seeks to reduce ego and merge with the divine principle. If we aspire to God-realization, we enlarge our vision to include everything within ourselves. Bondage is ended when we realize there is nothing apart from ourselves; we are the universal absolute.

The bhakti devotee strives to realize God by reducing ego to nothing. When our ego disappears, only God is left. Devotion promotes humility and surrender to divine will. On the path of devotion, the lord himself guides us to our goal.

The ego is most easily destroyed by bhakthi (devotion); by dwelling on the magnificence of the Lord and by humility and service to others as children of the Lord.

Sathya Sai Speaks 1

In this era of spiritual decline, devotion is said to be the safest and easiest path for most people to realize. God. The devotee’s loving surrender to God draws God to the devotee. The devotee is like a thirsty kitten crying for its mother; the mother responds to the kitten’s entreaty to relieve its need. Similarly, the Lord responds to those who depend on him and selflessly love him.

The seeker of wisdom, the jnani, aspires to freedom through the exercise of intuitive wisdom. To merge with formless Oneness, this seeker relies on experiential cognition of divinity. The jnani surrenders reason to the direct perception of god-consciousness. In this age, the path of wisdom is difficult for most seekers. It is easy for the jnani to become caught up in his own scholarship or asceticism. The path requires rare clarity of mind from a seeker, particularly in the absence of qualified teachers.

The way of action, karma yoga, is based upon the aspirant’s selfless service to others. The karma yogi serves the Lord in the forms of other people and creatures. This seeker exercises patience and equanimity to break down the walls of egoism. By concentrating on the needs of others, the karma yogi removes the barriers to liberation. The potential difficulty of this path is the aspirant’s pride in his or her accomplishments in the field of service.

The major benefit of the devotional path in this age is that it avoids the pitfalls of pride. Our era is characterized by personal pride and self-aggrandizement. For this reason, the bhakti path is considered safest. When we fully surrender to the lord, the Lord delivers us to our goal; there is no need for us to worry.

Bhakti is the through-carriage. Though it may be detached from one train and connected to another, if you get into it, you need not worry; so long as you stick to your place, it is bound to take you to your destination.

Sathya Sai Speaks 3