Head vs Heart – How to Cultivate Bhakti in a Highly Logical Mind

When describing Ishvara (God), the teachings of Advaita Vedanta rely on reason instead of faith. This approach removes a huge obstacle for those disinclined to accept religious beliefs. Yet, reason alone doesn’t produce bhakti, feelings of devotion and reverence. So how can bhakti be cultivated without resorting to beliefs?

When I first encountered Advaita Vedanta, I felt conflicted because it’s spiritual teachings are part of a vast Hindu tradition, a tradition that embraces many religious practices like devotional prayer and ritualistic worship. I was not at all inclined towards those practices, but at the same time, I was strongly attracted to Advaita Vedanta.

I struggled because I couldn't reconcile Vedanta’s brilliant non-dual teachings with its frequent references to Ishvara, a supreme being who creates, sustains and destroys the universe again and again. To me, Vedanta's non-dual teachings seemed highly logical whereas its teachings about Ishvara reminded me of the faith-based religion I had rejected so long ago.

Then in 1981, I attended some lectures on Advaita Vedanta by Swami Dayananda, who would later become my guru. I was stunned when he said that Ishvara is not a matter of faith, but rather, Ishvara is a reality to be understood.

For a clay pot, its material cause (upadana karana), clay, and its intelligent cause (nimitta karana), the pot maker, are completely separate. But according to the ancient rishis, the underlying substratum of the universe and the intelligence that endows it with form and function, are not two different things. The material cause and intelligent cause are one and the same, a single, intelligent fundamental reality, reality that’s called Ishvara.

Yet, even though Advaita Vedanta provides a rational basis for prayer and worship, its teachings don't automatically give rise to bhakti, to feelings of devotion and reverence. After all, it’s hard to have an emotional relationship with a formless, all-powerful being that’s the substratum of the universe and the source of its intelligent order. An intellectual understanding of Ishvara like that is a helpful starting point, but the cultivation of bhakti itself is a distinctly emotional process, not an intellectual one. Fortunately, there are many practices described in a wide variety of scriptures that address our emotions and us cultivate bhakti.

0:00 Introduction
10:34 Cultivating Bhakti

[GoldTopLane]

“The mind creates the abyss - the heart crosses it” Nisargadatta Maharaj

[susilabalaiha]

In Tamil Nadu three hundred years before one saint called Thayumanavar Swamikal described Iswara is like in this way.
All you seen this world is Iswara. Whatever you do, is Pooja, Whatever you say is Manthra. The great five elements and all lifes are the replica of Iswara. Thank you Swamiji.

[teehee]

Thanks, Swamiji 🔱🙏💮. I'm navigating this issue myself as a former Muslim who's turned off by fanatical forms of all religions - Hinduism included.💮🔱🙏

[waasisroad]

I struck gold when I found this channel. Thank you Swami Tadatmananda for your thoughtful devotion and to all at the ArshaBodha center who make these videos possible.

[JoshiSubodh]

Thank you for this video Swamiji. I have the exact problem as described. I have heard 11 Chapters of of Shree Bhagwat Geeta from you, and I understand the teachings, but cannot feel Ishwar. Your video gives great direction to experience Ishwar, if I can connect emotionally.

[sundarsubra]

Thank you for this beautiful explanation 🎉

[jasminka-kt]

Beautiful guidance, Swamiji! Thank you! ❤🙏💐

[sajanraghavan]

Thank you oh compassionate Sir, nay Ishwara for addressing this very valuable and extremely significant challenge with simple and relatable examples and personal stories etc

I still seek clarity and faith for which I pray that you intervine in my life, dissolve my doubts and fill me with bhakthi ❤🙏

[shivavish]

Pranam Swamiji 🙏 This is the best explanation i ever got about this topic of cultivating Bhakti and how to explain the same to kids.

[rajaiaf]

Swamiji, Pranams. Simply brilliant talk.

[pushkarsrivastava]

Beautifully explained such a profound truth. Pranam Swamiji.

[LarryLynn]

Excellent explanation to help bridge the seeming gap between rationale and metaphysics. Or science and faith. Thank you for that . I have and sometimes still do experience this conflict. But you have succeeded in using words to present an acceptable explanation.

[Girygen]

Sarve bhavantu sukinah... Pranam, Guruji. Thank you much for this video 🙏🙏🙏

[venkyneel]

Thank you Swamiji! It is Iswara's grace alone that I get to learn from you. 🙏

[taniabiswas]

Swamiji 🙏🏼 what a beautiful way of describing personal GOD to that of Impersonal GOD in analogy of long distant marriage. That you have crossed that barrier of relating to personal GOD does get reflect in your discourse. Also the state of deep meditation and getting one with GOD (Samadhi) so beautifully explained and can be grasped. Just that ignorance is so high, pull of maya is so strong, love for that impersonal GOD dwindles away. While born n raised as Hindu, folding my hands and asking for help just isnt coming to me anymore. Leaving me feel isolated. While I know “THAT” exists, unable to cultivate the intense desire to feel its presence. Hankering on small things to get fulfilled so that I can sit down and meditate on the ultimate reality? Unable to settle that confusion of mind.

[TheBeardedMysticPodcast]

Excellent video Swami ji! Thank you so much! Your compositions at the beginning and end are just as powerful! You must release them some day!

[latageeta]

A wonderful way to explain to the sceptical mind.

[anupa]

Amazing to listen from our foreign gurus...

[BlackHermit]

I will always Cultivate Bhakti in my mind. 🙏

[kasipandyshanmugavel]

Thank you very much Swamiji. This is the answer for God's realization