October 12, 2025

In Canada this is Thanks Giving Weekend.  Since it is thanks giving Vivek ji is giving thanks giving for multiverse, for our community.  Our community started, if you can describe it as start in September of 2016.  August of 2026 will be our ten-year anniversary.  On Sunday mornings we have experienced Vivek ji is not using the word study, this is an experience where there is discourse, discussion, dialogue, dynamics Vedanta in Ramayana we have completed this. Vedanta in Bhagavatam we have completed this. Sulabha Vedanta, Wake up to the potential.  We have experienced Bhaja Govindam historically, here to experience with more maturity. Right now, Vivek ji is recording for The Sacred Union Experience, course to help people with serious relationships with marriages.  Vivek ji was describing Dharma as a moral compass that our morality should become more intense as we become more evolved. If I am not evolved person, then my morality would just be equivalent to that.  But if I evolve, my morality should evolve to less corruption in my morality, less compromise in my morality.  That’s why Wake up to your potential this is not potential of your past; this is your changed potential after lot of experience, and lot of evolution for your potential to be more.  Leading to the completion of 10 years of completion, 10 years of coming to unity we are now immersing ourselves in Bhakti Time. Key word associated with Bhakti Time, understanding.  mā vi̍dviṣā̲vahai̎ may we understand. 

Our fifth class was on definition of Bhakti.  Definition of Bhakti is Prema, but its really synonym to Bhakti.  So, the qualifier is required.  Parama Prema.  It is a dedication that is filled with sacrifice.  That is sacrifice I don’t remember in fact sacrifice I shouldn’t even know.  Vivek ji gave an example of cutting our nails we don’t keep them, right they are just naturally renounced.  Every one of us feel connectedness to the divine.  We may not know how the divine looks or what name to call divine with but there is connectedness. The more, quiet you are, the more sattvic you are the more you feel that connectiveness its not even want it’s a need for connectiveness.  If you have something stuck in your teeth for one minute you feel it will go away but if its stuck there for 10 minutes you just have to find the bathroom, and find the pick, take that out, right?  So, those who are more quitter, more sattvic it’s been stuck there for 10 minutes it’s no longer that you want to get it out, you need to.  This notion of quietness and being more sattvic Bhagavan Rama shared in the Ramayana that he rests in every heart but he rests more in the hearts that are at rest, where you are being is more at rest, at ease, natural that’s where Bhagavan rests more.  Now to understand Prema we need to know that which is not Prema so, offering a framework.  There are not going to be that many frameworks in this course but here is one that fits in.  

• The lowest type of Bhakti is if you can call it Bhakti it is Kama.  Kama is physical.  This physicality is external.  What this looks like in our lives is dependence on articles, circumstances and beings. If Vivek ji depends on Nintendo Switch 2 that’s not Bhakti.  That’s Kama😊 
• More evolved than this is Sneha.  Sneha is not physical but mental.  This is also external.  But its not so much dependence on articles, circumstances and beings.  It’s a dependence on your own moods. The mood you are in when you interact with that baseball game, the mood you are in when you interact with your child.  What’s tough about moods the more, moody you are the more expectations you have. The less moody you are, the less expectations you have. If you think of last time, that you are really moody even if someone is being so kind we have such strange expectations, even with Bhagavan.  Moody people their relationship with Bhagavan is wants based.  The less moody you are it is needs based. If you no longer have moods your relationship with Bhagavan is for Bhagavan not from Bhagavan which leads to Prema.
• Prema is not physical or mental it is intellectual.  It is not external in As, Cs and Bs.  It is not external in the form my mood towards those As Bs and Cs.  It is internal.  This depends on my understanding of whoever whatever I am dedicated to. Prema is intellectual it is nothing to do with As Bs and Cs; it’s nothing to do with one’s moods.  It only has to do with one’s understanding. The key is, the association with the course is understanding we want to grow up from Kama, and Sneha to Prema so that this is not just a framework that I can’t touch or use.  What does Prema look like in our own lives even though it is internal how do I depend on understanding? At a body level we become more detail oriented.  What is definition of Bhakti?  It is Prema. What kind of Prema?  It is dedication filled with sacrifice.  What does dedication look like at body level? 
  • At body level Bhakti is to be detail oriented; putting things in their place, being punctual, those kinds of matters.
  • At a mind level it is to be determined.  Be detailed physically.  Be determined at a mind level. Many of us have learned about likes and dislikes.  Likes and dislikes slow us and stop us from being determined.  As an example, it is holiday weekend in Canada but Vivek ji is teaching because it is Vivek ji’s responsibility whereas all other Canadians?  See how the likes and dislikes come up during Thanks Giving.  They are taking holiday from Bhakti😊. One who is determined at mind level their don’t let their likes and dislikes sway them, deviate them.
  • At an intellectual level it is to be dedicated. In Highest Vocation Vivek ji repeatedly, shared individuality is determined by intention. So, what kind of person are you? It’s not based on your curliness of the hair or decibels of your voice.  It is why behind your what; the what of your appearances, the what of your actions so to be dedicated.  Dedicated to the opportunity, dedicated to the divinity.
  • At ego level this is your 4^th D.  D1 Detailed; D2 Determined; D3 Dedicated; D4 is for the ego to depend on the spirit. Right now, the ego depends on the equipments.  It depends on the intellect, mind, body so, it keeps on being extrovert. But if these equipments said NO you can’t use us anymore; the body, mind, intellect block the ego it has no where else to go but to the spirit.

Vivek ji feels that is a good offering of introducing the definition of Bhakti. Now the definition of reviewing Bhakti.  KMF keep moving forward

Class 6 the theme of this class is Bhakti as a relation. Earlier definition of Bhakti, now Bhakti as a relation. Vivek ji is going to reemphasize relation and relationship. A relation is inner feeling; a relationship is that inner feeling being formalized outwardly. When Vivek ji was dating Sheela ji, it was Sheela ji wanted to get engaged and get married and have kids.  It’s because Vivek ji had the bhava towards Sheela ji as in Vivek ji cares for Sheela ji fully so the relation lives there but Sheela ji wanted the Bandu/relationship.  So, do every one see the difference between relation, relationship; Bhava, Bandu.

Science: What is the first name of Bhagavan Narayana in Vishnu Sahasra Nama? It is Vishwa which means multiverse.  Another related word is Sarva. In Vishnu Sahasra Nama the Sarva comes.  Vishwa multiverse.  Multiverse, Sarva means all it doesn’t matter even if you are someone whose is this troubled thinker okay there must be something beyond this multiverse so all. All stone, plants, animals, semi-Gods and most of all humans are divine. Rooms in Life Gurukula are not named after people they are going to be named from the Vishnu Sahasra Nama.  One will be called Vishwa, another will be called Vashatkara, another will be called Sarva, another will be called Dhuswapna nasana, which means one who destroys nightmares. Because all of that really is Bhagavan Narayana.  Zooming into this more.  The science or teaching behind this is we have forgotten that all is divine and the way to remember the divine is with Bhava.  To start to have a feeling towards the divine.  Its almost more general.  How do we practice this? So, Vivek ji is zooming into this more. It is to remember divine not through a feeling but through a formal feeling that is with a relationship like one’s parents, one’s spouse, one’s child, one’s grandchild.  Always divine.  So, really our relationship with divine is relation less.  I don’t have relationship with myself I am myself.  But I have forgotten that.  So how do I remember my relation with the Divine?  Through a feeling. That’s something more general.  How do I make it specific?  Through a relationship.  This is the teaching. This will become more, clear when Vivek ji brings in scripture.

Scripture: For our scripture Vivek ji is referring to Section 10, chapter 29.  Chapter 29 is the first of five best chapters in Section 10.  In this chapter the Gopis are actively listening to Sri Krishna as he plays his flute.  Though he is playing his flute publicly only Gopis are able to hear him playing his flute. Vivek ji is taking us to verse 15 which will make the science very clear. 

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ bhayaṁ sneham aikyaṁ sauhṛdam eva ca
nityaṁ harau vidadhato yānti tan-mayatāṁ hi te

This is what Raja Parikshita is dialoging Rishi Shuka on.  All those who always fix their minds on Sri Hari on any sentiment sexually, lovingly, anger, fear, affection, unity, devotion they all attain to his nature. Rishi Shuka shares this with Raja Pareekshita What Bhava one should have towards Bhagavan, it doesn’t matter.  It’s the Bhagavan that matters not the Bhava. So, have any Bhava, any feeling.  If you are afraid, then ask Bhagavan to help you from that feeling.  If you succeeded dedicate that to Bhagavan to have that feeling.  When Vivek ji studied with Bhagavatam if we are falling from a chair for example, we should scream Narayana, because it is us having that Bhava that we are losing protection we should remember the one who can protect us.  When we sneeze, we should say Narayana.  Even that sneezing is happening because of that power. So, any bhava.  Offering more insights into this. What happened to Kamsa after Sri Krishna defeated him?  Where did he go?  The light in Kamsa became one with the original source of light that is Sri Krishna.  When we say Namaste the light in you bows to light in you, there is scriptural proof of that in the form of Kamsa. Vivek ji will read in English “Because in utter fear Kamsa was always seeing before him the form of Lord Krishna with his discus in hand whether he would be drinking, speaking, walking, sleeping or breathing.  Did he add death enter into that very form which is very difficult for others to attain”.  The theme is Bhakti as a relation.  The teaching is our relationship with Bhagavan is Bhakti.  Really Bhakti should evolve this to become relation-less but how do get there?  Through Bhava. This is what Rishi Shuka shared with Raja Pareekshitha.  This is what Kamsa actually did.  Now Bhava is general.  A Bandu is a formal relationship; a family member, a friend.  Vivek ji reading what Gopis shared with Sri Krishna after they listened to him play the flute.  They all left their homes in the village, in the middle of the night to go to the jungle.  Sri Krishna shared with them “What can I do for you? What are you all doing here? Its unsafe.  Go home.” Gopis in unison responded to Sri Krishna with is “May this advice of thine come true in regard to our relationship with thee the Lord of all who form us topic of instruction of all teachers and scriptures for art thou not the closest relative, the dearest object of all for all Jeeva being the soul of their souls”. What is shared is you taught us our only relationship is with you.  That’s why we are here. We don’t want anything from you.  We don’t need anything from you.  We just want and need you. 

Story: Our story supports our technique which supports our teaching which supports our theme.  The story is about Pujya Swami Tapovanam, who is Sadguru of Pujya Swami Chinmayananda. When Pujya Swami Tapovanam was younger in his teens he had lot of family responsibilities and he respected family responsibilities that he had.  He was not an escapist.  Still, he knew his family responsibilities were relative, not absolute.  He respected his family responsibilities; he tried to fulfil as much as he can.  But eventually he reached a point where he felt like he has done best for his family and now he needs to prioritize his absolute relationship that is with the divine. Pujya Swami Tapovanam found himself in the Northern part of Bharat/India.  This was late 1800 early 1900s. More than 100 years ago. Now if you go places like Uttar Kashi, Gangotri you can go there by Helicopter. He lived there when it was rough.  He lived there where there was no access to water like we have access to water and how cold it was.  We all heard of how he was moving from Uttar Kashi, to Gangotri engaged in the Kailash Yatra.  He just essentially went with his kurta.  If you see pictures, engaged in Kailash Yatra he just looks like a Mumu.  Mumu is just long upper cloth and no lower cloth. At one point there were some thieves who saw him, they thought this is perfect he is by himself we are group of people lets go and steal from him.  When they came closer, saw him and interacted with him they felt bad they gave him blankets and food.  He lived in such a rough way but unperturbed because his bhava was on the divine.  His Bandu was the divine.  This connects back to first verse we referred if you chose Sri Krishna all of your Yoga and Kshema will be tended to by Sri Krishna. The way that Pujya Swami Tapovanam lived, he with his eyes closed felt consciousness with his eyes open, felt the creator.  With his eyes closed there is no relationship with the divine, with his eyes closed there is only divine. Vishva Sarva and he lived like this.  In Vivek ji’s own life time Vivek ji met two people semi closely who met Swami Tapovanam.  When they were living in Ashram, they have lived in Uttar Kashi for more than a month.  After a year of studying in Ashram they have moved to Uttar Kashi and lived there for a month.  When Vivek ji goes to the mandir, the Kashi Vishwanath mandir in Uttar Kashi the main pujari is an old man told Vivek ji that he was a young child, his father was a pujari there so he would see Swami Tapovanam come to the mandir every morning and he would have collected water from Ganga and brought it to the mandir and offer that Ganga Jal to Bhagavan Shiva.  So, imagine as a little boy he got to see Pujya Swami Tapovanam and now he is continuing with that service.  Another person who saw Swami Tapaovanam was Swami Sundarananda, he passed away.  He was Swami Tapovanam’s helper.  He is the one who washed his clothes and sweep and stuff like that.  He was an excellent photographer so he documented Pujya Swami Tapovanam’s life so much.  Vivek ji’s interaction with him all he emanated to a person like me, and nobody like me is how loving Pujya Swami Tapovanam was, and is. Imagine Vivek ji told us to wash Vivek ji’s clothes, move Vivek ji’s shoes and we should make lunch and stuff like that.  For us we are transactional why are you telling me to do all that, do it yourself.  But Pujya Swami Tapovanam was so in tune with, absolutely in tune with the creator being in creation that he felt him serving Pujya Swami Tapovanam is serving the creator.  That’s Bhava. Bhava comes from Bandu. 

This is our Bandhu, Bhava, Bhakti as a relation.

Discussion Subject:  What is your relation with the divine and why? Whatever you are going to say you have to explain why you have stated it this way.  This is a subtle discussion, so please be open and respectful.

Vivek ji’s reflections: Vivek ji doesn’t think Vivek ji has wants from divine, Vivek ji doesn’t think Vivek ji has need from the divine.  But Vivek ji still held back by forgetting that the divine is all.  So, Vivek ji’s relationship is engagement but not marriage.  Point of engagement is it is still not a legal contract.  In marriage there is legality that comes with it. So, essentially don’t break it in this example.  But with engagement Vivek ji doesn’t want to say that is not casual, it’s not internal but it’s just not as strong.

RAW: Really internalize and do this through writing about the differences between Kama, Sneha and Prema. Already internalizing this so write it and draw it to internalize this more.

Last week: To count out how much sacrifice has been done for you? How much is sacrificed for you?Vivek ji: Vivek ji’s reflection on this if you feel that so much has been sacrificed for you, then one has to work harder to be dedicated.  If we don’t feel so much has been sacrificed for us then whatever.  We have to make more use of this opportunity.