Bhakti and Ritual

Spirituality
#1

I have come to understand that it is important to practice some bhakti in your personal practrice and that some ritual can add buzz or juice to that practice…many of the Hindu rituals seem to reflect Hindu culture and I wondered if anyone could suggest some suitable daily ritual for westerners…or non Hindu…as there is also a belief that yoga is best adapted to ones own culture…
I would appreciate any useful suggestions.
Best
barry

#2

Ritual has several important aspects to it. Ritual get you to forget your little self and remember your big Self. Your big Self is connect to all your little self is seperate. so any ritual that seems to connect you to other is good. Usually when we perform rituals with other we do the same actions as them … and thus the Big Self is active.

Namaste,

Steve

#3

Nothing ornate or flowery for me. I like getting down to business.

So boom here you go.

  1. Put on the sweat pants and brush the teeth. (I’m honoring my teeth.)
  2. Admire my handsome face for a second in the mirror. (I’m honoring my body and good deeds . . . )
  3. little stretching for 5 minutes (i’m honoring nature)
  4. Sit in the Seat and Pay my respects.

“To the Original Gangstar my work”
“To the worthy my thanks.” (Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Masters and so on)
“To the Devas my faith.”

Then I declare what I’m doing. WHy I’m doing it and how long I think I’m going to do it for.
“This is for all who can hear and to help pacify the minds activities.”

then get to it.

I spend more or less time in each section as I see fit.

#4

I suggest cleaning or straightening up your practice area a little before you get started.

#5

Bhakti is a worship to god.
The Bhagavata Purana teaches nine primary forms of bhakti:

śravaṇa (“listening” to the scriptural stories of Kṛṣṇa and his companions),
kīrtana (“praising,” usually refers to ecstatic group singing),
smaraṇa (“remembering” or fixing the mind on Viṣṇu),
pāda-sevana (rendering service),
arcana (worshiping an image),
vandana (paying homage),
dāsya (servitude),
sākhya (friendship),
ātma-nivedana(complete surrender of the self). (from Bhagata Purana, 7.5.23-24)

#6

[quote=the scales;45417]nothing ornate or flowery for me. I like getting down to business.

So boom here you go.

  1. Put on the sweat pants and brush the teeth. (i’m honoring my teeth.)
  2. Admire my handsome face for a second in the mirror. (i’m honoring my body and good deeds . . . )
  3. Little stretching for 5 minutes (i’m honoring nature)
  4. Sit in the seat and pay my respects.

“to the original gangstar my work”
“to the worthy my thanks.” (buddhas, bodhisattvas, masters and so on)
“to the devas my faith.”

then i declare what i’m doing. Why i’m doing it and how long i think i’m going to do it for.
“this is for all who can hear and to help pacify the minds activities.”

then get to it.

I spend more or less time in each section as i see fit.[/quote]

:slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

#7

Yoga-Tattva Upanishad

  1. Then assuming Padma posture, he should practise Pranayama. He should erect a beautiful monastery with a very small opening and with no crevices.
  2. It should be well pasted with cow-dung or with white cement. It should be carefully freed from bugs, mosquitoes and lice.
  3. It should be swept well every day with a broom. It should be perfumed with good odours; and fragrant resins should burn in it.

Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad

Being seated in the Padma posture upon a pure and pleasant seat which gives ease and is neither too high nor too low, and in a place which is pure, lovely and free from pebbles, etc., and which for the length of a bow is free from cold, fire and water,

Cleanliness is also a part of Buddhist practice, and one of the obsevances (niyama) of Patanjali. Not exactly Bhakti, but a good ritual observance.

#8

To whom are you devoted?

#9

I can’t find cow poop! Will horse poop do? is horse poop evil?

#10

Dude, can’t you read? No cow dung, then use the white cement.