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What is devotion? Do observation and devotion go together || Acharya Prashant (2018)
Acharya Prashant
1.1K views
7 years ago
Devotion
Observation
Truth
Attention
Concentration
Surrender
Kabir Saheb
Meera Bai
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that devotion is significantly more powerful than observation. He asserts that when one is filled with genuine, heartfelt love for the truth or God, observation of the mind occurs naturally and effortlessly. He emphasizes that love for the truth must come first, as it is this love that makes falseness, biases, and attachments noticeable. Without a desire for purity and truth, the blemishes of the mind remain acceptable and go unnoticed. Therefore, observation alone cannot reveal the truth; it only reveals the falseness that stands in the way of truth. He further distinguishes between concentration and attention, noting that concentration involves focusing on small objects while remaining small and secure. In contrast, attention is directed toward something vast and requires the individual to grow or dissolve their small self. Acharya Prashant warns that attempting to be attentive without devotion leads to tension and dryness. He criticizes the pretense of intelligence in those who prioritize observation while being allergic to surrender and devotion. True attention is described as being a servant or attendant to the truth, which is only possible through love, as exemplified by the madness and surrender of saints like Kabir Saheb, Bulleh Shah, and Meera Bai.