March 22, 2026
As we learn more about bhakti, bhakti time, irrespective of how hard life is, there is always, the opportunity, the provision for one to feel the one who makes this easy. Durga Makaaja Jagatake Jete, Sugama Anugraha Tumare Tete which means, even the most difficult work or experience in the world, in history, becomes easy with the grace of Sri Hanumana, Bhagavati Gayatri.
When Vivek ji was growing up watching Sesame Street and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, was almost like dedicated time because there was no remote control. This is what we’ve tried to create with Bhakti time. It’s that same level of dedication to just this singular subject of Bhakti. So just like we remember how to count in Sesame Street, to remember these stories, just like we now know how balls are made in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, we remember the science behind these stories.
This morning is Class 24. Vivek ji really likes that everyone is feeling grateful. A semi-Rajasic way to be grateful is to imagine what you’re grateful for didn’t come into your life. Sharing more of the vision or the big picture of Bhakti time.
Science: The first wave in Bhakti time, or the first flow of thought has been why. All matters pertaining to why of Bhakti. And we invested 10 weeks, 10 classes into the why of Bhakti. Vivek ji said if Vivek ji could share one summary message from this. We keep asking for help from the one who needs help. It doesn’t work or it only works for a short period in a short way. When one finally comes to the realization that I am helpless, helpless in a rational way. That’s when we develop a stronger relationship with the only one who can now. Vivek ji shared when poison was coming out of Sri Vasuki, the semi-gods or semi-demons couldn’t handle this. When we’re praised too much or when we’re criticized too much, we can’t handle this. If we’re praised too much, we become egotistical. If we’re criticized too much, we become insecure. They asked for help. Bhagavan Narayana came in and Bhagavan Shiva came in. This is the why, of Bhakti.
The next flow of thought has been the how of Bhakti. And we invested 12 classes, 12 weeks into
the how of Bhakti. And the main message, Bhakti is an active process. An elementary student is missing classes or they are very passive they will go to next grade. But for high school students if they miss too many classes or if they’re too passive, they don’t get an automatic graduation to the next grade. They fail that grade. Same goes with Bhakti. If one is passively understanding the why and the how of Bhakti, they get what they want but what they need. If one eats only what they want, it’s not going to be positive. That eventually will not taste or feel good. But if they eat what they need, they will be stronger. In these 12 weeks, we went through three reviews to make sure that this is with us forever not here casually.
We are now in the third wave of Bhakti time. From why to how to who. Who, the implication of this is you’re practicing. You got the utility, methodology, now some practice. In the most recent offering of Bhakti time, the perspective has been, I feel close to Bhagavati Gayatri. But does Bhagavati Gayatri feel close to me? In relationships, there tends to be, maybe if I’m an optimist, I like people. But the reality check is, do people like me? We went to the Bhagavad Gita. In chapter 12, an awesome section describes who is dear to Bhagavan Krishna from Sri Krishna’s perspective. It is Sri Krishna sharing such a person der to me starting in verse 12. Shri Krisha shares, the one who is dear to me, more important than them theorizing me, they act for me. He shares; Jnana is superior to Dravya. Dravya means I’m externalizing my relationship with the divine. Jnana means I’m internalizing this. This is more of a science.
Scripture: Gratitude is the one virtue that any city needs. What Sri Krishna shares is Adveshta. Adveshta means to not live by dislikes. Example, the main places where we have dislikes is food, the very first field we express likes and dislikes. Vivek ji hoping with training we are receiving, we understand that food is functional to not give in to likes and dislikes. For those who are training to not have likes and dislikes with food, with school, with work you are practicing Advaishta, which means not to have dislikes with people. The more positive way to think about this is kindness. If the people around you were kinder, would city you live in be happier? If your teachers were kinder, would you be a better student? If the students were kinder, would that classroom get along better? Kindness would make such a difference, Advaishta. Sri Krishna doesn’t just share with humans Sarva-bhutanam. I am going to be kind to all beings. Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, shared this in such a powerful way. Those who are kind to kind people, that’s not indicative that you’re a good person. Being kind to those who are mean to you, that’s indicative of being a good person. Tough love, that helps to bring out the best in us.
Story: Raja Rantideva, is really one of the most loved role models for Vivek ji. Raja Rantideva was
someone who was dear to Bhagawan. When people become dear to Bhagawan, Bhagawan says, what boon do you want? Now imagine, Bhagavati Gayatri comes right in front of you and shares, I love you.
What do you want? Please reflect on this. What Raja Rantideva shared, I want to live in every
being’s heart which might sound arrogant. Then Bhagawan said, why? Why do you want to live in every being’s heart? He said, I want to live in every being’s outer heart. I already know you live in every being’s inner heart. But because of pain and sadness, people get lost in their outer heart and they don’t actually find you in that inner heart. If I live in the outer heart, I’ll take all of their pain, sadness. That way, they will feel you in their inner heart. Vivek ji doesn’t know if any of us have the strength to want that kind of prayer, to ask for more pain, for more sadness from others. But really that’s the practice of Adveshta. Being kind to all and even more feeling of oneness with all.
Vivek ji is continuing into the who of Bhakti. What are signs?
Science: How do you become that person who’s following through into the why of Bhakti? Bhakti, we have learned, tends to be an action. When you hear the word Bhakti, what do you think of? Devotion, Prayer, Pooja. When Vivek ji was growing up, Bhakti was flowers. Bhakti was Sanskrit. Like it was always action-based. Offering flowers is Bhakti. Chanting Sanskrit is Bhakti. This is what Vivek ji knew of Bhakti. But through understanding Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, more important than Bhakti is Bhaktya. Bhaktya means with devotion with dedication. It’s not an action. It is an attitude. In the Mahabharata, there’s a lovely teaching called Vyadha Gita. Vyadha means Butcher. The person who is teaching is a butcher. But that butcher was not acting out of violence. That butcher was sharing, this is what my guna is, my personality type. I’m aligning my action with this. This is how I’m evolving. There is great alignment there. Vivek ji loves this because for someone, if they are cutting an animal, if they define Bhakti as an action, this is not Bhakti. But if they really know what Bhakti is, it’s Bhaktya, which means with dedication. Then if they are dedicated to this to help people, then that is Bhakti. It is not an action. It is an attitude. So, when we go to school or work, it can become our Mondir. When we are lifting weights, that can become our Mandir. Pujya Swami Chinmayananda used to feel when he spoke to people at times he spoke to 50,000, feel this is his Mandir. And every person is his murti. And his words were the flowers, his teachings. That’s why he would describe this as Mantra Pushpa. He may have not been a pujari, but he followed through with Bhaktya. Whatever he did, he did with dedication.
Scripture: Bhagavad Gita is one of the most practical maps of self-development in Sanatana Dharma.
Vivek ji’s favorite chapter in Bhagavad Gita is Chapter four. There are many pillars of Sanatana Dharma that are shared in chapter four. Please try to note this, in chapter four the four most important verses
are verse 8, which teaches about Avatara. Then verse 13, teaches color classification not colonial narrative of caste system. Then verse 34, the entire Viveka Chudamani is really just based on this one verse. Verse 34. It teaches how your body, mind and intellect have to revolve around purpose for you to find purpose. Finally verse 38 Bhagavan Krishna shares that nothing is more purifying than knowledge. Vivek ji wants to highlight this verse; it is a verse of hope. Vivek ji wants us to close our eyes and think about a made a very serious mistake in the past, feeling what that memory made us feel, living as close as possible and let that go as we open our eyes. Vivek ji will read Verse 36 which made Vivek ji feel so relieved and optimistic.
api ched asi pāpebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-kṛit-tamaḥ
sarvaṁ jñāna-plavenaiva vṛijinaṁ santariṣhyasi
Translation Even those who are considered the most immoral of all sinners can crossover this ocean of meaninglessness by setting themselves in the boat of divine knowledge.
In simpler way, nobody here is a sinner and definitely not the worst sinner, we may have felt it or someone may have told us that. Vivek ji shares these are Sri Krishna’s direct words if we feel that way it is through this knowledge that we have invested in can help us to let go of the past, let go of the ego; only this knowledge can.
Story:
Story relates to Sri Vibhishana. His brothers are Ravana, who is very Rajasic and Kumba-Karna who is very Tamasic. When Sri Hanumana asked Sri Vibhishana “How do you live here?”. Lanka was so Rajasic it’s like 100 times Los Vegas. Vibhishana is feeling dejected like us with very serious mistake we made. Sri Vibhishana said “I don’t know how I live here. I am like tongue amongst the teeth.” Sri Hanumana said “You may be living amongst the teeth. But remember the tongue outlasts the teeth.” Though we lose our teeth because of accidents or aging but tongue is always there. Pujya Swami Tejomayananda shared lovely extension “The tongue can call the dentist to start taking those teeth out.” Vibhishana can call the dentist that is Sri Rama. Vibhishana’s hesitation is “I am Rakshasa, my brothers are Rakshasa, my community is also like this. Will Sri Rama accept me?” Sri Hanumana replies “Look at me, I am half human, half monkey. Sri Rama accepted me more than I accept myself. He definitely will accept you.” Now Vibhishana goes to Sri Rama still feeling that he has made this mistake even though he hasn’t he feels like that. The very first words that come out of Sri Rama is Lankeshwara, you are the Lord of the Lanka. Sri Rama continues “I know you don’t live like everyone else. You are the master of all of this. In other words, you have transcended all of this.” Vivek ji’s final distillation in terms of we may live in hard times, may be family doesn’t get along, or chronic illness or financial troubles or can’t focus. However, when it comes to divinity, Sri Rama come as you are, powerful teaching. This is how one starts just BE.
Discussion Subject: What are three tactile, practical methods to be a more hopeful person. What are three ways you can be more optimistic, positive person.
Suman ji shared to not focus on our mistakes, often we slip into holding on to these. Idea is to learn from these mistakes so we can be hopeful about future. Perhaps there is an opportunity to learn
Vivek ji shared that in secular organizations there is always a pat on the back. When it comes to self-development organizations like Chinmaya Mission it is not so much self-appreciation but self-criticism. That is fine way of less someone who has regret and guilt and more of someone who has optimism and hope.
RAW: Develop or create a hopeless jar. Ideally that jar should be empty. Every time you feel hopeless put a quarter or some money. So, this feeling of hopelessness turns into some kind of material.