Question & Answer sessions with HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – 2015
Navavidha Bhakti, friendship with Sadguru
Question :
Among the nine types of devotion, which type or types of devotion are best suited for a specific individual?
Answer :
What are the nine types of devotion? Listening (to stories and glories of God), praising, remembering, and physically serving God, worship, prostration, being subservient, friendship, and self-surrender.
The question is which of the above are suited to a particular individual. Regardless of whether they suit one’s taste or not, all these should be followed. Just because a job is not appealing, would you simply resign? You adapt and adjust. Of the above, listening is something that everyone must do. Those who listen, will find the other types of devotion easy to practice. Listening will also help to identify which types best suit one’s nature. Unless one enters the arena, one will not know. Once the choice is made, one cannot leave it.
Mother Anjana Devi gave her son Hanuman a pointer. She said: He, is your Lord and is Lord Narayana, laying your eyes upon whom, your heart at once melts, your hair stands on end, you spontaneously offer prostration, and you utter the name, O Ramachandra Prabhu!
Since that day, Hanuman waited eagerly for the darshan of his Lord. Incessant sadhana will reveal what is important for one to follow.
Since the question has been asked, and it is my duty to answer it, I will say that friendship is best suited for all. Some might find even listening to be somewhat difficult. But it is easy to develop friendship with God. A friend gets along, and easily forgives. Even between spouses, conflicts may arise, but friends are easy going. Never feel that there is no one for you. Sadguru is there for everyone to befriend. Build friendship with Sadguru. Then the others will follow.