Love and Devotion are synonymous.

A dwelling place derives its name depending on the type of residence it is. A poor person resides in a ‘hut’, middle class persons in an ‘apartment’, a rich person in a ‘bungalow’, a king in a palace. God resides in the ‘Temple’ for Hindus, in the ‘Church’ for Christians, in the ‘Mosque’ for Muslims and so on.

Similarly, an expression of love is given a particular nomenclature depending on the relationship between the persons involved. Between parents and children or between siblings and any paternal/maternal relationships, love is termed ‘affection’. Friendship is a form of Love. When it is expressed towards elders, it goes by the term ‘respect’. ‘Devotion’ is love towards God. When love grows to absolute intimacy, beyond any boundaries, then it is the ultimate ‘Love’. You use different terms for this emotion, but that does not make any difference to its intensity.

In fact, love is not the foundation for love only; it is also the basis for hatred and even murder! A man goes to the extent of killing another, if the latter tries to misbehave with the former’s wife. It is the love of the man for his wife that has led to this situation, isn’t it? So, love takes on different forms. Devotion is considered to be the highest form of love, because it is towards God. When you are in absolute love with God, your heart will be oriented towards nothing but Him. Imagine a relationship between a lover and his beloved. They will have thoughts of nothing else but each other. Even when they are apart in their own workstations, they fondly recollect the conversations and tenderness they share.

For a newly married couple, even an unintentional touch sends sparks of electricity flying between each other. But much later, every such feeling subsides. Why? What was it that caused a sensation in the beginning; why is it not present afterwards? Primarily because everything is thought based. So called love, so called anger, so called hatred - all emotions are founded on thoughts. Which is why parents are able to cuddle their children, even when the children have entered home dirty from the day’s sports and fights.

All relationships exist in the mind; they do not depend on any physical form. And the basis for all relationships is love. And it takes on different names, different forms, expresses itself in different relationships. And love blossoms in all its entirety and purity when it is invested in God. That is termed Devotion.

At its zenith, devotion for God flowers into intoxicated love, where one feels the presence of God in everything like Andal or Meera or Azhwars or Nayanmars. That is the only relationship worth having.

The most desirable state is being in eternal thoughts of the Lord, reveling in His Presence in everything. That is Ultimate love - Love with the Ultimate.


(Based on the request of viewers, we have created a new email id where you can address your queries to Baba. Mail your queries to soughtclarifies@samratchana.com Baba replies to all queries during the daily Sathsangh and nilacharal.com will publish the transcribed version of His reply.)

( Baba's replies to other questions continues next week....)

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