Bhakti Sadhana Yearn for God-Vision The Nine Paths of Bhakti Fruits of Bhakti Bhakti Yoga Return

We have grouped the sections below under a heading entitled "Spiritual Life," but in fact the title itself could be a misnomer. There need not in fact be something separate from our present state, whatever that state may be, that we call 'the spiritual life.' To enter into the spiritual life is not necessarily to go somewhere new, but rather just to be where one already is, but in a more absolute and integrated way. The spiritual life is a search to find what we already possess-something very profound that is obscured by our own ignorance. That ignorance is however not our true nature and it will be eliminated as greater wisdom dawns.

The sections that follow are meant to help sharpen the focus on what the spiritual life actually involves in a clear and practical way. The topics that were chosen are relevant to many different types of persons: beginning seekers as well as the more advanced, married people as well as those living a life of renunciation, older people as well as younger people, and so on. In the first few sections: "Sowing the Seeds," "Overcoming Obstacles," and "Liberation" answers to various questions are drawn from the teachings of Swami Chidananda, and the section "Thinking Philosophically" is taken from the works of Swami Krishnananda. "Personal Spiritual Journeys" is a series of interviews with fifteen long-term residents of the Ashram, through whom one can get an insight into how individuals came to the spiritual life and pursue spiritual practice. Most of the other section titles, such, as "For Married People," "Meditation Know How," "Mantras," etc. are self-explanatory. These sections are all meant to give practical advice and guidance to various types of persons wishing to lead the divine life.