Philosophy Break: Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga is the devotional aspect of the yoga practice, another direction to get to Yoga's ultimate goal: union with the Source. Bhakti Yoga involves devotional prayer, chanting, meditation, and participation in ritual and ceremony. The word "bhakti" originates from the verb "bhaj," meaning "to offer prayers" or "to give". Many practitioners look to the Bhagavad Gita as the text that first introduced bhakti as a path of yoga. In the text, Krishna introduces the four paths of yoga: karma yoga, jnana yoga, raja yoga and bhakti yoga. While there can be a focus on specific deities, practicing bhkati doesn't have to involve deity worship. It can be practiced in a secular sense - seeking unconditional love for everyone and everything. Any contemplative practice or ritual can be a form of bhakti yoga.