Bhaktiyog

The Yoga of Devotion

Chapter 4 of Immortal Life

By Dhanjibhai Fakirbhai

The Lord Jesus said:

“The ones who worship me
should do my bhajan (worship)
with atma (spirit) and satya (truth/reality).
I desire such bhakts (devotees).” 1.

A bhakt said:

“Let us do his seva (service) respectfully.
In this way the Lord will be pleased.” 2.

The Lord Jesus said:

“Love me with your entire hriday (heart), entire life,
entire buddhi (intellect), and entire strength. 3.

The one who loves me, I will love,
and I will reveal myself to him. 4.

Make your hriday shuddh (pure) in order to praise me.
Blessed is he who is shuddh in man (heart);
he will receive my darshan (vision). 5.

My das (servants) will worship me,
and they will behold my face. 6.

My bhakts (devotees) hear my sad (voice),
and they follow me. 7.

I know the ones who are my own,
and my own recognize me.” 8.

The shishyas (disciples) said:

“As beloved children, let us become the ones who imitate the Lord,
understanding what the will of the Lord is and
what is acceptable to the Lord.” 9.

The Lord said:

“I am your Lord and swami (master).
I only am your guru,
and you are all brothers.” 10.

The shishyas (disciples) said:

“My Lord and my God!”
They fell at his feet and worshipped him. 11.

They entreated the Lord, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

The Lord said:

“Do not babble meaninglessly while praying.
When you pray, enter your room, shut your door,
and pray to the Lord secretly. 12.

Come near me, and you will receive rest in your daily life.
Pray in your atma (spirit) at all times with all types of prayers
and entreat thankfully, praising the Lord in every circumstance. 13.

Always pray and do not become lazy.
Keep praying. Do the Lord’s seva (service).
Remain committed to bhakti (devotion) with perseverance.” 14.

A bhakt said:

“Let us come near
to the Lord with shuddh (pure) hriday (hearts)
and complete resolve,
having kept shraddha (faith). 15.

Let us go near the Lord’s krupasan (gracious throne) with
the courage to receive daya (mercy) and to obtain krupa (grace)
for assistance in critical situations. 16.

We enter the Lord’s presence with courage and trust
through vishwas (faith) in the Lord. 17.

We do not know what to appropriately pray for.
However, the atma (spirit) of the Lord himself intercedes for us,
helping us in our weaknesses.
We are the sevaks (servants) of the Lord
through the atma of the Lord.” 18.

The Lord Jesus said:

“If you stay in me and my words remain in you,
then you should ask for whatever you desire
and you will receive it. 19.

Whatever you ask for with shraddha (faith) in prayer
you will receive. 20.

You will receive all that you ask for in prayer
if you pray believing that you have received it. 21.

Ask and you will receive
so your anand (joy) will become full.
Let my anand remain in you, and
let your anand become full. 22.

Be joyful, always be joyful in the Lord
through songs, through praises,
and through adhyatmik (spiritual) songs.
In your hriday (heart), sing songs and
bhajans (spiritual songs) to the Lord. 23.

Your man (heart) will receive anand, and
no one can take your anand from you.” 24.

A bhakt said:

“We are rejoicing with fullness of anand before the Lord.” 25.

When the Lord sat at dinner a woman applied
a pound of priceless perfume on his feet. 26.

And she wiped his feet clean with her long braid of hair.
The fragrance of the perfume spread throughout the entire house. 27.

At that time the Lord said:

“This lady has done what she was able to do. 28.

Worship your Lord
and do his seva (service) alone. 29.

With single-minded focus,
do the seva of the Lord.
Contentment together with bhakti (devotion) is greatly profitable. 30.

No one is able to serve two masters.
You are not able to do the seva of God and seek material wealth. 31.

Whenever you pray,
give mafi (forgiveness) to anyone
if they have done anything against you. 32.

As the Lord has given you kshama (forgiveness),
you give kshama to one another.
As beloved children follow my example. 33.

When you pray, at that time say:
‘Oh Lord, give mafi for our offences
just as we ourselves also give mafi to our offenders.’ 34.

I give you my shanti (peace).
Be at shanti. 35.

My shanti, which is beyond all understanding,
will safeguard your hriday (hearts) and man (minds).” 36.

The shraddhavan (believers) said:

The swami (master) of shanti will stay with us. 37.

Let us keep ourselves established in the love of God,
increasing in param pavitra vishwas (supreme holy faith) and
praying in the pavitra atma (Holy Spirit). 38.

Spiritual knowledge named Shri Hriday Gita;
here ends the fourth chapter named Bhaktiyog.