Who is a Good Devotee?

    
                  In the 12th Chapter of Bhagavadgeeta (the Bhakti Yoga) Sri Krishna has spent quite some time explaining 'bhakti'. What is "bhakti"? Right from the start, he says that bhakti primarily consists of divinizing the mind and intelligence. When the mind and intelligence are completely transformed according to devotional principles, a person becomes a devotee.
                Later on, he enumerates the characteristics, of a devotee. He says that God loves those who have these qualities in them and that the devotee, who, with utmost shraddha, attention, imbibes all these characteristics becomes dearest to Him. Immediately, the seeker should understand that these are the characteristics of devotees, and that these are to be imbibed. When you develop this kind of an enlightened-outlook or knowledge-response, I think the whole life will change drastically.
                       While listing devotional qualities, Sri Krishna, first of all, mentions "adveshta sarva bhutaanaam" – a devotee must not have hatred towards anybody in this world. He uses the words "sarva bhutaanaam". Not only human beings, but all creatures! Instantly the devotee should understand and come out with a response: "Oh! Is it so? Then let me develop this virtue. From this moment, let me not dislike anybody!" Don't you think that this one exposure – either by reading or by listening – is sufficient for people to start thinking about getting rid of all forms of hatred and resentment?
Understand very clearly that your mind is not a granite block. It is something like water. It cannot be rigid. It has to be flexible. And the mind can be transformed to any level of purity, expansion and elevation.
                      You might have been a very crooked person. I think the crookedness can be removed. A person might have been very wicked. He can become very gentle and noble. A person might have been miserly. He can become very generous, liberal. One might have been unillumined and ignorant. He can become illumined and wise. What is there not possible, so far as the mind is concerned? And a good person can still strive to be better! There is no end to refinement of the mind.
                       So, I think every time your attitude should be one of correct, proper response to exposure. You should be rightly exposed and you should also allow yourself to get rightly exposed. This is not merely true of devotion – in every aspect of life, this principle becomes relevant.

 Harih Om Tat Sat. Jai Guru.

* * *