Lord Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita says, “Out of thousands of human beings, one strives to know me and out of thousands who strive to know me, one truly knows me as I am.” You may wonder then, if God-realization is so difficult, how can we ever achieve it? Shree Krishna puts this fear to rest as He states,   ananya-chetāḥ satataṁ yo māṁ smarati nityaÅ›haḥ tasyāhaṁ sulabhaḥ pārtha nitya-yuktasya yoginaḥ   O Parth, for those yogis who always think of Me with exclusive devotion, I am easily attainable because of their constant absorption in Me. (BG 8.14)

Shree Krishna says that He is easily attainable if you meet the condition of ananya-chetāḥ, which means that the mind must be exclusively absorbed in Him and Him alone. The word “ananya” is very important. Etymologically, it means na anya, or “no other.” The mind should be attached to no one else but God alone. This condition of exclusivity has often been repeated in the Bhagavad Gita (i.e., ananyāśh chintayanto māṁ 9.22, tam eva Å›haraṇaṁ gachchha 18.62, and mām ekaṁ Å›haraṇaṁ vraja 18.66).

Reader, the mind is extremely malleable. It takes on the qualities of wherever or whatever you attach it to. Hence, if we attach the mind exclusively to the divine realm of God’s names, forms, virtues, pastimes, abodes, and associate (the Guru), it gets purified and takes on transcendental qualities taking us closer to our ultimate goal. However, if we attach it anywhere in the world that is made of the three gunas (i.e., sattva, rajas, and tamas), it becomes impure and takes on the impure qualities of the object of attachment.   Shree Krishna explains that in the material realm, the worship of tamasic entities like ghosts and spirits results in the attainment of hellish regions after death. He further says those who engage in bhakti of rajasic entities like human beings and ancestors return to the material realm after death. And worship of sattvic entities like the celestial demigods results in the attainment of heaven, where you reap the rewards of good deeds only to be sent back to the earthly realm. He then clearly expresses that the highest devotees are those who attach their minds to the Supreme Divine Personality. Such fortunate souls, who firmly resolve to worship God and engage steadfastly in His devotion, go to His divine Abode after death.

Reader, the message then is to do your worldly duty but to keep our mind attached to the divine realm. Presently, we cleanse the mind by contemplating upon God, and then again dirty it by dipping it in worldliness. This way we will never be able to clean it, no matter how long we try. We love God but also love and get attached to worldly people and objects. So whatever positive gains we accomplish through sādhanā become tarnished by worldly attachment. If you apply soap on a cloth to cleanse it, but simultaneously keep throwing dirt upon it, your effort will be an exercise in futility. Hence, Shree Krishna says that it is not just devotion, but exclusive devotion to Him that makes Him easily attainable. Watch this beautiful video by Swamiji on “Ananya Bhakti” or exclusive devotion to God:

The Only Purpose of Our Human Life is to Attain God | God-Realization    Listen on SoundCloud here!

Reader, if you have relished the bliss of the knowledge shared today, do check out the JKYog website. It is an excellent source for both inspirational and devotional knowledge. You will find insightful blogs, the latest audios and videos, access to online events such as satsangs, meditation sessions, yoga classes, practice sessions for Daily Sadhana and Life Transformation Challenge, Bhagavad Gita study sessions, Bal-Mukund and youth classes, and much more!

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