Understanding bhakti yoga: the path of devotion
Bhakti yoga is more than physical asanas, it is a journey of the heart. In fact, it is often referred to as “yoga of the heart”. All yoga means a connection, union with the divine and in bhakti yoga, practitioners focus on offering their actions with love.
Why begin a bhakti yoga journey?
The bhakti yoga journey is a transformative one. Mantra meditation, acts of service and positive association all encourage peacefulness, mindfulness and harmonious community living. Additionally, as bhakti yoga is an emotional process, practitioners find it a wholesome, heartwarming experience. It is the art of eternal love.
Foundational principles of bhakti yoga
Bhakti yoga is about offering everything you do with love and devotion. What you do, what you eat, everything. And you do this with consciousness. Chanting of the sacred hare krishna mantra combined with learning from teachers and ancient texts elevates your consciousness and transforms the heart.
Preparing your practice: mindset and intentions
There isn’t really much you need to do to begin your bhakti yoga journey, but as with any endeavour having a set goal and positive mindset always helps! Prepare yourself by setting a reachable bhakti goal. This could look like reading a chapter of Bhagavad Gita As It Is each week or doing 30 minutes of japa meditation (chanting the hare krishna mantra on beads) every weekend. You might also like to keep a “bhakti journal” to record your realisations along the way.
Sacred texts and teachings: wisdom for the journey
There are many texts in the bhakti yoga tradition to help practitioners at all levels. Bhagavad Gita As It Is is the quintessential bhakti yoga text, but there are also other wonderful books to dive into such as: The Science of Self Realisation and The Nectar of Instruction. Check them out for yourself!
