The Yoga of Spiritual Devotion: A Modern Translation of the Narada Bhakti Sutras

by Narada, Prem Prakash

• The first translation of this great but little-known path of spiritual devotion written for the modern Western audience.

• An insightful commentary aimed at making the path of love immediately accessible to Westerners.

• A life-affirming and relationship-positive path of yoga.

• Written in the spirit of the kirtans (ecstatic songs and dances) of Narada, sensitively translated by Prem Prakash.

Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion, is considered one of the primary paths for spiritual realization in yogic tradition. Its representative, Narada, is the embodiment of the enlightened sage who travels the universe spreading his sacred teachings. Unlike Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of Wisdom, the bhakti acolyte does not discriminate against material phenomena--for him, all phenomena are aspects of God. Within the context of Ananda, blissful love, the temporal is realized as the reflection of the eternal, and the soul is realized as the expression of God.

Genres: Spirituality, Hinduism, Gnosticism

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Glenn Russell]

Kirtan with mrdanga drum

Some years back I played the mrdanga drum for kirtans at a yoga studio, kirtans being a core practice in the path of bhakti yoga.

American Yogi Prem Prakash has done a great service by providing a modern translation and accessible commentary for readers interested in learning about and/or following the path of bhakti yoga.

Prem Prakash says in his Introduction, “By making love his polestar, the bhakti yogi follows its light along the path of life until the soul realizes it is one with that light.”

Here are a few notes I have made in my multiple readings of this beautiful book:

- The sweetness of devotion fills the yogi and the yogi becomes intoxicated with bliss.

- Take care of the body as the body supports spiritual practice.

- Hold intention to always be attuned to the divine. As you move through your day, be sweet and soft and sensitive.

- Bhakti or spiritual love and devotion is its own fruit. The yogi feels joy and gratitude on feeling love and light from within.

- Want liberation? All you need is bhakti. All you need is love.

- Singing and drumming – celebrate everything and everyone as being worthy of love.

- Be a sun and generate light.

- Be free from the bondage of orthodox doctrine, tradition, and social and religious teachings – the divine is direct and spontaneous, not mediated through anyone or anybody. Experience the inner light; experience your heart overflowing with love.

- Peace and joy are experienced directly every step of the way in the path of bhakti yoga. If this is not one’s experience than something has gone wrong.

- One need not be perfect as long as motivation is pure. Every striving, no matter how small, counts.

- The bhakti yogi exerts a subtle influence on all whom he or she comes into contact.

- Among bhakti yogis there is no prejudice. Worldly status means nothing.

- Live in a simple, orderly way.

- Whatever form the divine takes to inspire the yogi to devotion – god, goddess, light, whatever is the proper form.

[Emily Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prem Prakash sets out to write Narada's tenets of the branch of yoga known as Bhakti in modern parlance that makes sense to both followers of this philosophy and newcomers like myself. The format of the book is exactly like Sri Swami Satchidananda's translation and commentary of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...). The sutras or "threads" can be convoluted, and I like having them unpacked. Each section contains one sutra and a mini-lesson, almost like a sermon about it. Reading this book is like being in Yoga Church.
Bhakti Yoga is basically the yoga of Love, more than any other. The book uses the term God quite often, and much of the language is familiar to the ears of someone brought up under the religious dome of Judeo-Christian traditions. The author does a wonderful job of opening up "God", not limiting the concept to an ancient mysticism, an inaccessibly ideal or a restricting belief in only one doctrine. Bhakti Yoga is pure, practiced for the simple desire of being and demonstrating Love in its highest form. From the opening verse, "Devotion is nothing other than love. To be devoted means to engage with love. The Sanskrit root of bhakti is bhaj, "to engage with affection." This text will deal with the nature of supreme love -- love for God, love for all: how it is cultivated and nourished, and hows its fruits are enjoyed."

[Rupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful comprehensible introduction to spiritual devotion for Western audiences. This book will prove invaluable for shining light on the path, especially for those who lack real-life teachers and community. Spirituality without devotion is like a rose without petals; but where Western culture shies from embodiments of love, preferencing the cold superior rationality of the detached mind, Prakesh's readable illumination can help to bridge that gap for aspiring Western yogis and bring one to a place of complete acceptance.

[Julian Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a humble heart and clear voice, Prem Prakash's contemporary translation—with commentary—of Narada's "Bhakti Sutras" offers modern yoga practitioners an encouraging entry into the practice of Bhakti Yoga. Prem Prakash's work guides committed and inquisitive students of spirituality and yoga alike to a place where each student may feel as though s/he is being attended to personally. What a gift to have the inimitable voice of the Teacher so close at hand.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful interpretation of Narada's Bhakti Sutras. Alongside his translations of the original work, Prem Prakash writes from his own yogic experience guiding the student along the sometimes confusing path of bhakti yoga. This book is appropriate for everyone from the beginner to the experienced bhakta yogi.