Though the rituals of puja serve their purpose to stay focused on the higher, the goal is to lift our mind from a particular murti or representation of God’s form and worship His manifestation in us and the world around us. It’s to recognize the harmony in creation and His form in all people and respect it. But why stop there? Give, serve, alleviate any suffering or need of society and the Earth with reverence, respect and love for the Lord so that your whole life becomes puja and worship.

Level 1 of devotion, Puja, can be long and complex but it rests on a science. The rituals first invite the all-pervading God into a singular form to which we give and surrender. Our minds divert from ‘me, myself and I’ and are engaged in steps akin to our routine so that in mundane moments too, they turn to the Lord outside and are uplifted. As our minds transform, we recognize the divinity’s essence within us.

Attempt a puja wholeheartedly to see its beauty and power for yourself.

Love alone enhances love. In the path of bhakti, love is both the means and goal. Alternatively, Bhakti techniques can be categorized into 3 levels, based on the support being employed. Practicing Level 1 means relying on our body, speech and mind. Each personality aspect is then dropped to progress to the most subtle method. But one is not better than the other since at different moods and times, we need to act accordingly. Just pay attention to yourself and evolve in the essence of what needs to be done.

It’s not a problem if we have the solution. The solution to the endless ocean of finite actions is to dedicate our actions to the higher. Retain purity of mind when acting and change the intention so that we are not attached to ME, MY desires and MY likes and dislikes. Finite results will still occur but our thoughts behind the intention will also bear results. All that will be left is our best and conscious effort for a higher love or cause. Practice this and be free from attachment to actions and results.

All of us have goals. Our finite bodies and minds have limited capacity and carry out impermanent actions to attain those goals. Consequently, the results are temporary, and a little too soon, the enjoyment is over. We then immediately look for the next result we want to obtain. This is the endless cycle of finite actions producing finite results, leading to a constant need of doing and wanting. But when will it be enough? Isn’t there anything more?

Be aware of the trap, question and think deeper.

If our actions are not supreme, and their results are ordained by the higher principle governing all Laws of the Universe, then is it all simply destined? Are we all just the puppets to the puppeteer’s whims and fancies?

No. Because we choose the actions we perform and how we perform them. Destiny then works as the Law of Action. But remember that our little actions are part of a bigger picture. So, keep pride at bay, and feel humility and divinity’s grace in the parts we do get to play and accomplish.

The one belief we all can agree on is that action leads to result. But the Law of the Universe is far more intricate than we think.

Actions themselves are inert and don’t have supreme power. Our effort is required to put into motion the Law of Action but it is one small thing among all that at play, no matter the effectiveness, skill or efficiency of our action. So how much control do we really have? Never over the result, that’s for sure! So, detach from the results of your actions and feel the relief.

In the Shiva Purana, there comes a portion in which Lord Shiva had blessed some sincere and proficient, yet, temporarily distracted pandits with higher knowledge. What he taught is known as Upadesa Sara.

In this life, because we have so many desires, talents and resources, we can pursue various paths. However, the text is the ultimate gift of guidance as we understand the main thing that we should be focusing our thinking and energy on, and the things distracting us from it. 

What philosophy is the Vedas trying to teach? How should Hinduism be practiced? When will we get to hear the call of the Lord? When will our hearts be filled with so much devotion that true silence is experienced? Upadesa Sara, written by Ramana Maharshi, is a perfect and beautiful way to delve into such topics.

In this first episode, snippets from Maharishi’s life teach us that the Lord is, in actuality, constantly reaching out to each one of us. The only difference is our ability to hear and feel that presence in our lives.

Bhaja Govindam's last verse instructs that if nothing else is possible, hold on to the Guru. The Guru is one who has already journeyed and is beaming with bliss. Despite our essence being truth, we see confusions, limitations and challenges. So when they come into our lives, the light within us is brought out. Also, the spiritual journey is pathless and open land with infinite possibilities. The Guru fulfils our need for inspiration and tailor-made guidance that keeps us going in our mission to reach the higher. But the most beautiful thing about the Guru is that they do all this for us; so that we become masters, like them.

For this, we can at least have immense gratitude for our Guru. Be lost in the love we can have for them, or in the love they undeniably have for us.