Swami Nikhilanand Ji addresses a common question:
"Is it even possible for a householder to follow the path to God?”
and
"Is bhakti for family people?"
He says that we are going to look at this question from three different perspectives:
1. What do the scriptures say?
2. We'll look at it historically.
3. We'll think about it logically.
Then he explains that devotion is not about leaving responsibilities but about including God in daily life.
When King Parikshit learned he had only seven days left to live, he turned to the sage Shukdev and asked a profound question, “What should I do with the time I have left? And what should ordinary souls do amidst the chaos of daily life?” Shukdev’s answer was simple yet powerful. He said that for those caught in the endless whirlwind of responsibilities and distractions, there is no greater or more auspicious path than bhakti, the path of loving devotion to God. Even Brahma, the creator of the universe, and the one through whom the Vedas were revealed, studied all the scriptures deeply and came to the same conclusion: whatever helps a soul develop genuine love and devotion for Shri Krishna is the highest truth. And so, Shukdev instructed the king, “O King, you should practice bhakti all the time.”
He refers to the Bhagwatam and says, "Even in Kaliyug, where distractions are many, uninterrupted bhakti can lead a soul to God." To support this, he gives examples from history (answering the question historically). "Dhananjat was a simple farmer, yet he attained God through unwavering faith." He also mentions, "Tukaram had family duties, yet his heart never left God’s feet." These examples, he says, show that devotion is possible in any situation.
Swami Nikhillanand Ji explains that logically it also makes sense that we should be able to do devotion to God. He says, "God is gracious. He would never make His attainment impossible for householders." He encourages everyone to change their perspective saying, "It is not your duties that hold you back. It is the way you see them." He adds, "With correct knowledge, we can change our thinking." He explains that a true devotee sees every action as an offering to God.
Before ending, he reminds us that we are really good at making excuses at putting things off. Like, “I know I want to attain God. I know that that’s the only place pure happiness exists and I want that.” But then we have a whole list of reasons why we can’t do that in this life. Swami Nikhilanand Ji reminds us that the scriptures are telling us that no, any human can attain God as there is no discrimination. He then concludes by telling devotees in the next session that he will talk about a few practical things one can try to incorporate on a daily basis.
Memorable Quotes from the Discourse:
"Is it even possible for a householder to follow the path to God?"
"With correct knowledge, we can change our thinking."
"Only by attaining God can a person attain perfect happiness."
"Does bhakti suit my lifestyle?"
"The crown jewel of all the Vedic scriptures is the Bhagwatam."
"The atma can attain its ultimate happiness only by following the path of bhakti."
"The supreme dharm for all the souls is bhakti."
"Whatever a soul can do to develop bhakti in his heart, that is the easiest path for these souls who are so caught up in the world."
"He (Sukhdevji) decided that the essence of everything is whatever develops bhakti in your heart for Shri Krishna."
"Atman: the Soul of your soul."
(Shri Krishna tells Uddho) "I am only attainable through bhakti, through faithful devotion."
"Why would God ever allow such a situation to exist for us where we would not be able to do devotion to Him?"
"God does not give anything to a soul to undergo that that soul cannot handle."
(Bhagwan Ram) "All you have to do is give your heart to Me ."
"Bhakti can be practiced by any kind of fallen soul no matter how distracted or attached or fallen."
Please watch the video or read the transcript to fully grasp the essence of the discourse.
Please note that the transcript has not been proofread. If you spot any errors, kindly let us know by getting in touch with us.
