Padmanabhan Janakiraman
Member
“Which is the best way to God?
Traditionally, it has been said that there are three ways to God:
1. The Bhakti Marga (Path of devotion)
2. The Karma Marga (Path of action)
3. The Jnana Marga (Path of knowledge)
There is also another path called the Raja Marga., but there are not many Gurus to explain and guide one in this path.
Among the three one must not ask which one is the best; rather one must ask which one is the best for me?
The journey to God or oneself is made through a three-wheeler. Each wheel represents the Bhakti Marga, the Karma Marga and the Jnana Marga. Based on one’s inclination and aptitude, one can place either of them as the front wheel. But the other two wheels are important too.
So, one can choose to sing bhajans and do namasmarana.
That does not exempt one from doing service and inquiring into the Reality of the Self. The same holds good for one engaged in service or meditation - no exemption from the other two. This is because all the three are necessary if one has to proceed towards one’s goal - oneself or God.
When you consider a clock, there are three hands on it. One is a second hand, another is a minute-hand and the third one is the hour-hand. The second-hand travels very fast, moving round the 12 numbers in 60 seconds, while, during this time, the minute hand moves through only the little mark or division. After the minute-hand travels through sixty divisions, the hour hand moves slowly through one hour. Sixty seconds make one minute and sixty minutes make one hour.
The second-hand is Karma Yoga or the path of action. It is easy to do a good deed and one has to keep doing them. The minute-hand is Bhakti Yoga or the path of devotion. When one does many good deeds, one gets good and noble thoughts - thoughts worthy of offering to Bhagavan. The hour-hand is the Jnana Yoga or the path of wisdom. When one is saturated with many good and noble thoughts, one gets an insight.
So, all the three- action, devotion and knowledge are a must. One cannot move without the other and one loses meaning without the other!
But again there arises a doubt about putting which wheel as front wheel to that ‘Three Wheeler?’
JUST A THOUGHT..
