Narada Bhakti Sutras - Text, Transliteration, Translation & Commentary /51

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<ignore>4. RENUNCIATION
 

43
 
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<p text="C">general. Bhakti Yoga is not practised for any selfish

purpose whatsoever. The devotee does not want pros-

perity, power or even release from pain and sufferings.

The basis of devotion or divine love is self-denial.
 
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<p text="C">Desire obstructs the growth of devotion. Devo-

tion to the Lord increases in intensity when mundane
desires are renounced.
 

desires are renounced.</p>
<p text="C">The psychologists and psychiatrists foolishly

imagine that spiritual experience is of a sexual origin.

It is a terrible mistake. It is purely divine.
 
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<p text="C">It is not a suppressed experience of sexuality.
 
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<p text="C">Continence of a spiritual aspirant is not repres-

sion or suppression. It is sublimation of sex-energy

into ojas or spiritual energy which is utilised in
divine contemplation.
 

divine contemplation.</p>
<p text="C">Prahlada, Dhruva, Nachiketas showed signs of

spiritual illumination even from boyhood.
 
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<p text="C" merge-next="true">Desire is an enemy of peace. Desire is an enemy

of devotion. Without renunciation (tyaga) Bhakti

can never be cultivated in the heart. Vishaya Asakti

(attachment to sensual enjoyments) is the greatest

obstacle in developing devotion. Energy leaks out.

No improvement is seen in spiritual Sadhana. The

devotee always complains: "&quot;I have not realised any-

thing in the path of devotion. My mind remains in

the same state. It always wanders about wildly in

sensual grooves. I am restless. What is to be done?"
&quot;
Desire is very powerful. It assumes various subtle

forms. Desire is Maya'&apos;s weapon to hurl down the

Jivas in the mire of Samsara. There is no end for
 
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