Learn to Cultivate Selfless Love for God

Do you know how to cultivate selfless love for God?

"O Shree Krishna, You Were, Are, and Will Eternally Remain Mine"

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj’s philosophy on divine love is well known to devotees on the path of bhakti or devotion. His desire to uplift mankind was central to His mission. He taught and disseminated the divine knowledge of the Vedas in countless ways including published books, articles, couplets, bhajans, live lectures, quotes, etc. Maharajji made divine knowledge accessible to all souls, not just the erudite. He described many different forms of devotion but particularly emphasized the importance of listening (i.e., shravan), chanting (i.e., kirtan), and contemplating (i.e., smaran) on the divine name, forms, leelas, virtues, and abodes. His beautiful and sublime kirtans reveal the underlying philosophy of selfless love for God and Guru.

Selfless Love Philosophy Expounded in Kirtans

Maharajji composed thousands of bhajans to teach mankind the basic philosophy of spiritual devotion. For example, in the beautiful bhajan, “Suno Man, Sabai Shrutina ko Sar,” one of the lines says, “Ik maya ik jeev duhun ko, Ish brahm sakar.” It means that there are only three forms of existence; God, maya, and the soul. God governs both maya and the soul. Such bhajans teach us that spiritual devotion is the only way to purify the mind. Classified under various types of Madhuris or sweet and divine knowledge, devotees can find bhajans for every bhav or sentiment. 

Maharajji composed numerous bhajans to communicate the significant role of a true Guru on this path. He equates the role that God and Guru play in the evolution of the soul through infinite lifetimes. To practice devotion, we must attach our minds to God and Guru with complete selfless love. Maharajji heavily emphasized the importance of faith on the spiritual path, especially during difficult times. In one of His beautiful pad kirtans, “Tuma binu kaun harè pira Hari,” Maharajji explained that human beings encounter three types of hardships in the course of their lives – adiatmik (i.e., physical or mental suffering), adibhautik (i.e., suffering inflicted by others), and adideivik (i.e., suffering due to elements of nature). These occur because we are trapped in clutches of material maya, running after sensory pleasures that cause hardships later. But the compassionate Lord has also graced us with a human form, the hunger to seek God-realization, and the opportunity to receive guidance from a God-realized saint or Guru. Under a true Guru’s guidance, we can learn to increase the intensity of devotion to experience the union with the Lord. 

Another amongst the thousands of soulful bhajans is, “Tuma Mere Thè, Mere Ho, Mere Rahoge,” which means, “You were, are, and will always remain mine.” This beautiful bhajan is the topic for the lecture series at Radha Krishna Temple’s Sunday Satsang.

Swami Mukundananda ji’s Commentary on Tuma Mere Thè

This is a beautiful bhajan that describes the sentiments that devotees should possess when reflecting on their relationship with God. Swamiji explained how knowledge about something makes us aware of its value; similarly, if we become aware of everything God does for us, we too would love God out of gratitude. He gave us the human form and the consciousness or sentience that gives us life. We are indebted to Him in countless ways for graces through infinite lifetimes. Our devotion would grow if we became aware of all of God’s graces and our eternal relationship with Him.

Swamiji beautifully explained how we souls are tiny fragments of God’s energy and by implication, His children. We are a part of the whole. That’s how we have an eternal relationship with God. The irony is that we give more importance to worldly relatives who will be left behind when we die. Swamiji urges us to develop a loving relationship with God, our eternal relative. That’s why the bhajan says, “O Shree Krishna, You were mine even when I did not believe in Your existence, nor did I know that I am a tiny fragment of Your energy. Now that I have gained this knowledge, I firmly believe that You are mine. In future too, You shall remain mine.”  

The really compelling lines of the bhajan are, “…bahakun na aba bahakane se; jaba samajha prema men duba gayi, taba kya hoga samajhane se.” Swamiji beautifully explained that the devotee says, “O Lord, even if You try to dissuade me or push me away from You, I will not be dissuaded, because, with Your grace, I now have the knowledge of my eternal relationship with You.” The sentiment in these lines suggests that the love of the selfless devotee will not vanquish during difficult times. 

God tests us from time to time by presenting difficulties on our path to ensure that our love remains selfless. Many times people fall into the trap of thinking that difficulties in life mean that God has forgotten us. They may lose faith or walk away from Him. But if situated in knowledge, we will welcome difficulties as a way to attach our mind to God. In his book, 7 Divine Laws, Swamiji said that true love is where there is a reason for the love to be destroyed and yet the love is unshaken and remains selfless. 

Selfless love is about giving and not expecting anything in return. In the material world, “love” is based on a “give-and-take” relationship or just “taking” from others. We practice this mindset even in our relationship with God. When we make a mannat (a special wish or prayer), it is akin to bartering with God. For example, “Lord, if you cure my child of typhoid, I will feed 100 poor people.” This contingency statement does not reflect selfless love because the wish is like a lure for God to fulfill a material desire. Swamiji has reminded us many times that “God is not a cosmic bell-boy.” There are several problems with this type of “business” relationship with God:

• God is the creator of infinite universes and has everything at His disposal. There is nothing that a tiny soul can give to the Supreme Lord, but the nature of selfless love to give from the heart. Besides, there is nothing we can give Him in return because everything we have is material whereas God’s grace is divine. 
• Everything that we have belongs to God. There is nothing that is ours to give except selfless love. Swamiji explains that God is hungry only for selfless love. When a devotee loves God selflessly and gives whatever he possesses, the Lord too gives everything He possesses to the devotee. The tiny soul and the almighty Lord give whatever they have to each other. The devotee’s love enslaves God. 
• God already knows what each of us wants because He resides in our heart and notes each and every thought and action (karma). We do not need to ask for anything. If we just offer our sevas with love and devotion, God will provide whatever we need to make spiritual progress in life. Additionally, He will protect whatever spiritual earning we have accrued. Like Lord Krishna told Arjun: 

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् || 22||

ananyāśh chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣhāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham 

“There are those who always think of Me and engage in exclusive devotion to Me. To them, whose minds are always absorbed in Me, I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess.” (BG, 9.22) 

Swamiji further adds that selfless love is not about seeking reciprocation, which is why it cannot be destroyed. True love is about serving the Lord in the form of time, effort, faith, devotion, and love, for His happiness. As tiny fragments of God, we are constitutionally geared to serve Him. When doing any form of seva or service, we must try to invoke the quality of devotion by expressing deep and sincere gratitude to God for all the graces He has bestowed upon us. This is what keeps us humble.

JKYog Sunday Satsang Lecture Series

This beautiful lecture series is a part of the Sunday Satsang at the Radha Krishna Temple. We have covered only two parts so far. This series will continue for several weeks. We invite you to join us virtually or in-person and soak in the bliss of Swamiji’s divine commentary on the selfless nature or a true relationship with God. The Satsang is held from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.