09-05-2017, 05:09 AM
(09-03-2017, 08:10 AM)Stranger Wrote: Those are very different statements - bhakti yoga having to do with devotion to God and attaining moksha (liberation - the highest spiritual goal in Hinduism) by God's grace - as opposed to any personal effort aimed at changing oneself.
Ra's message is quite in contrast to that, clearly specifying the need to become a balanced personality focused at least 51% on caring about others' needs. The closest Hindu path would be karma yoga -- the path of works -- but even here it doesn't quite capture that *who you are* (personality configuration) matters much more than *what you do*, since it's possible to do all kinds of "good works" without love and even with resentment.
STO is service to Creator (consciously or unconsciously). This is also known in the teachings of Jesus. This may be different than usual bhakti but the goal is also union with the Creator.
"A holy man is one whose mind, heart, and soul are merged in God /.../ And knowing that God is present in all existence, he serves Him."
"To love only your compatriots is maya. To love people of all countries, to love followers of all religions, comes from love of God, from compassion."
(Ramakrishna)