Question:

Namaste Ektaji, how does the leap from devotion to Self-realization take place for Meerabai, Tukaram, Gnyaneshwar, etc? There is no mention of self-inquiry, so how did they realize who they are?

Answer:

There was no leap from devotion dear. Devotion is the automatic last step of the self-inquiry path. Let’s dive deeper into this. 

• • On the path of self-inquiry, there arises a clear discernment between reality and illusion, at first. This is Viveka. 
  • As the sword of Viveka sharpens, the illusion is slayed unintentionally, and inevitably. A natural withdrawal ensues, this is Vairagya [Dispassion] which spontaneously blossoms from the healthy seed of Viveka.
  • The blossomed dispassion naturally turns the attention within to the limitless and desireless oneness. That is the Master Key.
  • Every external object of worship sheds away and Advaitam [Non-duality] is naturally embraced.
  • The conditioning of slavery to the senses is overcome.
  • The power of endurance of the impermanence of all strengthens.
  • The power of contentment with Non-duality while discarding Duality is mastered.
  • The inner conviction becomes rock solid in one’s direct seeing.
  • The effect of tasting the bliss of non-dual oneness is so profound that the external object loses its importance, only the devotion [fixing the attention] on the Oneness remains.

Gopis of Vrindavan: The Gopis used to wait for Krishna in the gardens. They were inward-turned to such a degree that when Krishna arrived, they missed him. The object had lost its attraction, in fact, it never was important on this journey.

• • The meaning of Krishna is the Consciousness that lies beyond the waking state. There is no external person that the Gopis were lusting for in the waking state.
  • The meaning of the arrival of Krishna is the attainment of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. There remains no ‘I’ there to claim that ‘I attained it’. 

Zen: Devotion to an external waking world object limits you to the waking world. The limited cannot attain the limitless Self. That is why Zen says, ‘When the disciple is ready, the teacher appears. When the disciple is fully ready, the teacher disappears.’ They insist on not holding onto an external waking world Guru or God so that one can turn within and fix the attention inwards. 

What is Devotion?  

True devotion is only to oneself. Consciousness only loves itself. That is the supreme truth! One must recognize that the last step of Consciousness falling in love with its own self is devotion. It is called ‘fixing the attention inwards’. There is no separate path dear. They only appear separate because of what has been described. There is only ONE way home. It is a one-way street! All will end in Devotion! Someone will write poems in devotion, someone will simply fix his attention on the Non-dual Oneness in silence. Some are experts at explaining the step-by-step path. All are home!  

Articulation of the journey to Enlightenment:

As the ones who reached the supreme truth could not always articulate well, their direct seeing was expressed mostly in poems or songs. Articulation to a subtle level of detail about the inner world is a rare skill. Those who articulated have clearly stated the steps from Viveka to Moksha. Those who fell short in describing the self-inquiry parts of their Enlightenment journey, sometimes used poetry or simply silence. Only the ones with the knack for understanding poetry can locate the hidden glimpses of Inquiry in the verses.

Devotion is a natural blossoming where the Consciousness recognizes that there is only Consciousness and it has always loved only itself. There is no other! [Ananya]. Avoid the temptation to create an illusory other [Anya] as that will become an obstacle to be overcome, my dear. 

Lastly, a spiritual warning about those who could only partially complete the journey to Enlightenment. They may have created ‘Bhakti paths’ for the naive mind that lacked the required bend of the mind mandatory for self-inquiry. They sell waking world objects like idols, chanting mantras, beads, breath techniques, crystals, Guru photos, etc to the innocent spiritualist. These objects fall under Anya. Beware the Spiritual shopkeepers! The only Ananya is your Inner Guru tattva or Consciousness. Get there by Self-Inquiry!

Keep chugging! I am right by your side!