***Satya***

Be awakeLove yourself and be awake - today, tomorrow, always.First establish yourself in the way, then teach others, and so defeat sorrow.To straighten the crooked you must first do a harder thing - straighten yourself.You are the only master. Who else?Subdue yourself, and discover your master.What if you slept?And what if, In your sleep You dreamed?And what if, In your dream, You went to heaven And there plucked A strange and Beautiful flower?And what if, When you awoke, You had the flower In your hand?.... Ah, what then?---------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------B hakti-Yoga is the path of love and devotion. Traditionally, this has involved the use of external props and external relationships. Rites, rituals and ceremonies comprise the props, and adoration of gurus and an external Supreme Being are the focus of the relationships. The beauty of Bhakti-Yoga is that it is so accessible to anyone, regardless of spiritual development, because the aspirant is free to establish a relationship with God in any form that he finds attractive. In addition, it satisfies the primal craving inherent in the soul of all beings — the desire for love. Bhakti-Yoga satisfies this urge within a spiritual context, permitting love and devotion to be cultivated and directed in a healthy manner. The Nârada's Bhakti-Sûtra and portions of the Bhagavad-Gîtâ outline this path.The disadvantage of Bhakti-Yoga is that it can become an escape from the rigors of the deep self-examination required for spiritual growth. Devotion can all too easily deteriorate to a dreamy sentimentalism if it is not balanced with honest introspection. In addition, an overly emotional dependence on anything outside of oneself, regardless of how apparently "divine," prevents one from reaching the state of spiritual maturity. This has been the problem in those sects in which "grace" from the guru is supposed to be the fuel which drives the rocket of the disciples growth. Gurus who claim to do the work the disciples must do for themselves are misleading their followers.As we examine the different branches of Yoga we can see how they each have their pluses and drawbacks. Too often, proponents of one system espouse propaganda about the superiority of their system, confusing aspirants. The wise aspirant will draw from the different approaches that which suits his temperament and personal life situation. In the same way that every individual has unique needs related to diet, sleep, and exercise, so does each have a unique spiritual path that is for his steps alone. It is my opinion that an aspirant should feel free to utilize whatever practices assist him in quieting his mind, opening his heart, and making him better able to serve others ****