March 15, 2026
When we get sick self-care becomes most relevant for the wellness of the physical body. When Suman ji was teaching bhakti time we reflected on something similar for our minds. Suman ji spoke about modern restlessness and how our lives today they feel like interval training. We run, we run, we run on this treadmill of samsara and then we collapse for a moment of rest. We collapse for this moment of rest and then we’re back to that grind more emails, more deadlines more expectations, responsibilities. But if our pursuit in all of these endeavors were truly leading to peace, we would hope what we would eventually arrive at is rest. But we haven’t. In that first Bhakti Satsang with Suman ji in fall, we saw that the real ailment of our time of really all times is this restlessness of the mind. For the mind Bhakti was the antidote for this modern restlessness. At that time Suman ji shared there is no overdose when it comes to devotion.
Then when we met again at the beginning of this year. Our focus shifted from relevance to relationship We began exploring our relationship with Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, specifically our 12th chapter this final chapter on bhakti yoga. We reflected on that beautiful relationship between Sudama and Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Suman ji reminded about Bhagavan Krishna’s innocent question to Sudhama “Will you be my friend?” Sudama hesitates “How can we be friends? I have nothing to offer you.” Little Krishna
replies sweetly “No worries I’ll never ask you for more than you can give.” We flowed from understanding the relevance of bhakti now to prioritizing a relationship for bhakti. If you look at this trajectory so you associate, so you think so you think, so you become. We are clear about the need through which we prioritize the relationship. So, Suman ji is hoping our thinking has begun to evolve. Today what we arrive at is a very natural question, who am I or who are we becoming? We are studying bhakti, developing a relationship with Bhagavan. What are the signposts, indicators to be recognized of a bhakta. We are looking inward so, from relevance to relationship to recognition and these signposts, these indicators. They are not an externalization they are not an outward expression like a tilak or clothes or malas. They are inner hallmarks. The qualities that naturally begin to appear as one’s love for the divine, as one’s love for Bhagavan matures.
To explore this more deeply we’ll revolve around what Bhagavan Sri Krishna describes in 13th and 14th verses of 12th chapter of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita., Suman ji chanted these. In these two
verses Bhagavan Sri Krishna doesn’t describe the bhakta, the devotee through external practices. It’s like when Bhagavan Sri Krishna shares the Sthita Prajna lakshanas, indicators of a realized master that become our sadhana what we seek to work on in each of ourselves. These two verses, and the subsequent five verses describe the indicators, the inner qualities of a bhakta the qualities they embody, the qualities of being a bhakta meaning, our sadhana again. It’s shared in this 13th verse adveshta sarva-bhutana such a one is free from all hatred towards all beings; stones, plants, animals, humans, all beings and such a one is maitriya karuna eva ca they are friendly, they are compassionate they are loving towards all beings. It’s not that there’s just no hate but rather there’s this unconditional love and friendship for all beings and how is this possible? Nirmamo nirahankaraha because such a bhakta is free from possessiveness, attachment nirahankaraha, this ego or this notion of mamatvam or me and mine. Finally, Bhagavan Krishna qualifies the end of this verse by sharing samadukha-sukha-kshami that they are balanced in pleasure and pain or more broadly, they are balanced in the pairs of opposites that define the world we live in. In 14th verse it’s being shared santushtaha satatam yogi yatatma drdhanishchayaha such a one is content, disciplined and drdhanishchayaha, a firm resolve how is this so? Mayya arpita mano buddhihi it is through the dedication through dedication of their mind and intellect that rests with me that rests with divinity. Suman ji’s most favorite part of this verse, this last pada because whenever he hears it, whenever we chant it Suman ji always envisions this image of Bhagavan Sri Rama holding Sri Hanumana. This last pada, shares yo mad bhakta sa me priyaha is such a
bhakta of mine, such a devotee of mine they are most dear to me. These verses are sharing not virtues; they are the signs of a heart of a personality evolving that is being transformed. The idea is that as love for Bhagavan deepens as this relationship deepens and matures the sense of separation that this ego perpetuates, it begins to soften. As it softens these qualities are the natural result, they are the natural evolute. Swami Chinmayananda shares this beautifully for us to understand as our greatness doesn’t lie in what we do but in how we do it. But bhakti does not necessarily change what we do, it changes how we do it. It is like our family member making our favorite entry at home rather than someone at restaurant cooking it. When our family member puts it together the bhava behind her making it and the bhava behind the restaurant cook making it are completely different. One is merely transactional where the cook has no idea who we are, where as our family member makes in this moment is so much more nourishing at the subtlest level. So, more important than what we do is how we do. The hallmarks of a bhakta are not garb or outward gestures the adornment of a bhakta are the virtues they embody and the joy they bring to all those around them.
Story: In Shrimad Bhagavatam, there’s a wonderful story history of Raja Ambarisha, a ruler, a householder, a leader of a kingdom. Raja Ambarisha’s life dramatically different from others externally, but inwardly Raja Ambarisha was the greatest bhakta everything he did, everything he felt, everything he thought was quietly offered to Bhagavan. This wasn’t occasionally or when convenient. This was everything, in all ways. Once Raja Ambarisha was undertaking a sacred vow that needed to be completed within a very precise window, he knew that divinity was in the details. This discipline was important. Durvasa Muni Durvasa Muni arrives on the final day of this vow. Durvasa Muni is not known for being the most compassionate, most loving. Durvasa Muni is known for his anger. Raja Ambarisha welcomes him with all honors and all decorum. Durvasa Muni just looks up and says I’m going to bathe first, so he leaves and time passes and the sacred moment to complete the vow is approaching. If Raja Ambarisha waited for Durvasa Muni, he would miss that window. His vow/Vrata would be broken. He thinks about how to navigate; if he completes his Vow Durvasa may feel disrespected that he began eating without him. As Raja Ambarisha consults Shastra while processing this quietly, the moment of Dharma. Shastra says this Vrata could be completely with a drop/sip of water. Durvasa Muni arrives when Raja Ambarisha was taking sip of water. Durvasa Muni gets very angry and brings a fiery demon adveṣhṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣhamī pleasure, pain whatever is happening all creatures he is loving. Raja Ambarisha is embodiment of Stane; all is all should be. He just stands there Bhagavan Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra appears. Sudarshana Chakra consumes the fiery demon and was going after this Sanyasi, Durvasa Muni. Durvasa Muni runs to Bhagavan Bramha, Bhagavan Shiva. Finally, he goes to Bhagavan Vishnu. Bhagavan Vishnu says “I am Damodara; I am bound by the love of my Bhaktas. Only Raja Ambarisha can protect you.” Durvasa Muni runs to Raja Ambarisha scared, humbled and asks for his forgiveness. Raja Ambarisha immediately starts praying for Durvasa Muni’s safety. Then Sudarshana Chakra dissipates. Raja Ambarisha was never offended with Durvasa Muni’s words. This is because as Bhakta sense of separation is softened, dissolved. This is highest understanding of what Bhagavan Sri Krishna shares in verse 13 adveshta sarva-bhutana freedom from hatred toward any being. It’s not suppression of anger or other negativities. But the absence of separation produces such negativities. This is the inner transformation of Bhakti. When this transformation matures, we see two beautiful hallmarks of such a Bhakta, one that is most dear to Bhagavan. The culmination of each of these qualities from these verses is humilities and service. Knowledge is that does not humble us is not knowledge it is information. Humility appears and that ego begins to loosen its grip. When the notion of me and mine stops revolving around the world and find its locust in divinity that I am yours Bhagavan. And you are mine. In such a vision there is no need to defend oneself, assert oneself, prove oneself. We see this in Raja Ambarisha, Sri Hanumana in masters like Tapovan Maharaj, Guru ji. When Suman ji was in Ashram for Swami Prakashananda ji there with glimmer in eye and smile on the face whether it is small or big work. We need not look for the signs of Bhakta our Bhagya is that we have so many in our life. With this humility, from that humility now the second Hallmark service. When divinity, oneness begins to be felt service becomes natural not obligation or charity but as its very expression Satsanga, Seva, Sadhana, Seva. The natural outcome of first three is internalized is service. Raja Ambarisha serving the Kingdom, Sri Hanumana serving Rama. We see it in our Gurus Gurdev serving Tapovan Maharaja, Guru ji serving Gurudev. We can deserve our Gurus by prioritizing Satsanga, Seva, Sadhana. The consistency in our commitment is easy when the depth of our gratitude is high. Service for Bhakta is not an action it’s vision; it is way of being. When the heart begins to internalize divinity, oneness helping another no long feels like helping someone else. When the ego, sense of separation dissolves in love for the divine humility and service are the hallmarks of Bhakta. That heart slowly begins to resemble what it loves the most. Love who loves you the most.
Discussion Subject
Hallmarks of Bhakta are humility and service. Think about your life. What situations you find yourself most easily triggered where humility becomes difficult. When you are engaged in service what vision or attitude are you bringing to that action?
RAW:
On a scale of 1 – 10 rate yourself in terms of humility and in terms of service.