A questioner, who has been a devotee of Shri Narayan for twenty years, asks if the Truth itself shows the way on the path of Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion). She explains her journey from Dvaita (dualism) to becoming interested in Advaita (non-dualism) after encountering Acharya Prashant's teachings, and questions whether this is a genuine progression or a trick of her ego. Acharya Prashant responds that at the end of all calculations, terms like Dvaita and Advaita are just words. Ultimately, what truly matters is one's intention, purpose, and desire, for which the purest word is love. He advises against getting entangled in the distinctions between various philosophical paths, be they Indian, Western, theistic, or atheistic, as there is no end to these classifications. He explains that he has never understood the idea of moving from one path to another, as love is simply love. Citing the Bhagavad Gita, Acharya Prashant notes that while some may see eighteen different yogas in its eighteen chapters, he sees only one Krishna. He emphasizes that Shri Krishna himself illustrates the inseparability of the paths: Karma Yoga (path of action) is impossible without Jnana Yoga (path of knowledge), and no knowledge is complete without Bhakti (devotion). He concludes that they are all one and the same. Addressing the questioner's experience, he states that when love arises, a person takes a step forward according to their own state and understanding. The specifics of how that step is taken are less important than the fact that it is taken in pure love. When she says "Narayan" is there for her, she is acknowledging a reality greater than her limited self. This, he explains, is the essence of spirituality: knowing that there is something greater than one's own life and body, for which one is willing to sacrifice everything. This greater reality can be called by any name—Narayan, Atma (the Self), God, Allah, or even Freedom. Calling it Narayan is Bhakti Yoga; calling it Atma is Jnana Yoga. The names are not important; what is crucial is having something in your life that is bigger than yourself.
