Why do the Hare Krishna people claim their belief is Bhakti-Yoga?

Question

Why do the Hare Krishna people claim their belief is Bhakti-Yoga, a Yoga system?

There were some really geat answers given here. Unfortunately, I can only select one answer. These answers addressed some of the concerns I had on my mind. The true meaning of "Yoga" was important point. Yoga means to link. Yoga means linking with a natural high, a higher taste, a higher self, a higher purpose, a higher plan, a higher mind, and a higher instinct. Similarly, Dharma also means this a linking, a system, a path to all these higher concerns. In this age of Kali the easiest method of linking with the higher self, the spiritual existence and linking with God is glorification of the names of God. According to the Hare Krsna belief the name of God can be ideally found in the Hare Krsna maha mantra:

HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA
KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

Find out more about this Bhakti-Yoga belief and ISKCON at these addresses.:

Read Bhagavad Gita As It Is
http://www.asitis.com
http://gitamrta.org/
http://www.vedabase.net/

Higher Taste: Online Vegetarian Cookbook!
http://www.webcom.com/ara/col/books/VEG/ht/

Also try these sites to purchase Hare Krsna devotional and educational paraphernalia.:
http://www.matchless-gifts.com/
http://www.thekrishnastore.com/
http://www.krishnaculture.com

DHARMA http://japa-mala.org

Answer 1

Because Yoga actually means to link up with the Absolute Truth and that Is God. Bhakti means loving devotional service. So We practice reconnecting with God also known as Krishna, or Vishnu, by offering all of our hearts, minds bodies and souls in thought word and deed to Krishna. That is our practice. Using all of our talents, gifts and abilities in Gods service. We cook for Him, clean for Him, dress for Him, offer our work to Him, everything is for His pleasure. In that consciousness we become transcendental to the material world Maya (illusion) and at the end of life we return to the eternal Kingdom and continue our service there if He so desires. Bhakti yoga is our eternal occupation in practice and as one progresses it becomes our reality, because it is reality. It is nonsectarian and universal and anyone can do it no matter what their religion. It begins with the glorification of Gods holy names We say the Maha Mantra which is the most recommended names of God for the quickest progress. But one can chant any bonafide names of God from their religion such as Jehovah, Allah, etc. The main the is to never forget His Name. For info go to harekrishnatemple.com read Bhagavad Gita as it is by Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada tells the whole process asitis.com anyone can read it on line.

Answer 2

Hare Krishna people follow sanatan dharma, they do not claim to be only hindus (at least what is nowadays thought of hinduism)
Yes they follow the specific path of bhakti yoga,
(bhakti means devotion, yoga is the way, or connection- therefore, bhakti is the means for their connection with God)
- not jnana (empiric knowledge) yoga, not karma (fruitive activities) yoga. only bhakti yoga they follow.

They of course follow what their guru mahraj tells them, what else can be asked of a faithful shishya?

There may be some that are ignorant, as there are ignorant people in all religions, and those who follow less strictly than others in all paths, so this should not be a consideration.

Those devotees who are serious and under proper guidance are in general not ignorant, but very well studied in the sastra. They are not simply parrots, they have fully dedicated their lives to the study and cultivation of bhakti yoga. They should not be unduly criticized.

Answer 3

ISKCON was formed with the very purpose to spread the practice of 'Bhakti yoga' (The Yoga of Devotion); wherein aspirant devotees (Bhaktas) dedicate their thoughts and actions towards pleasing the Supreme Lord, Krishna.

Traditionally there are nine forms of bhakti-yoga. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha (the others being Karma, Raja and Jnana Yoga), and especially so within the current age of Kali yuga. In scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana, bhakti is described as a perfectional stage in itself which surpasses even moksha as a level of spiritual realisation.

According to ISKCON Bhakti signifies a blissful, selfless and overwhelming love of God as the beloved Father, Mother, Child, Friend or whichever relationship or personal aspect of God that finds appeal in the devotee's heart. Bhakti incorporates a number of universal principles, also common in other world religions. They believe in total surrender to the will of GOD within.-

Answer 4

There are common themes for many of the schools within Hinduism that can be found in the Vedic scriptures, and such works as the Bhagavad Gita. Remember yoga originated out of Hinduism. Most people only know the physical forms of yoga, called hatha, but those techniques area actually preparatory techniques for the higher practices of the spiritual types of yoga such as jnana, karma, and bhakti. You can practice a form of hatha but it helps to be grounded and centered in some sense in the higher forms of yoga or all you are doing is stretching. In the highest practices of yoga, they all lead to complete bhakti - surrender.

If you are interested in the yoga teachings of Lord Krishna, then one thing you may want to focus on to learn and practice in a more nonsectarian manner is the Uddhava Gita. The Uddhava Gita is a summation of the essence of the Bhagavad Gita (and the simplest and most direct practice of yoga), and so it is eminently suitable for nonsectarian, universal teaching which is the essence of Hinduism.

Here is a short summation of the Uddhava Gita which is found in the Srimad Bhagavatam (also known as Bhagavata Purana) 11.7:

EPILOGUE - LORD KRISHNA'S LAST SERMON

At the end of another long sermon comprising of more than one thousand verses, disciple Uddhava said: "O Lord Krishna, I think the pursuit of God as You narrated to Arjuna (in the Bhagavad Gita), and now to me, is very difficult indeed, for most people; because it entails control of unruly senses. Please tell me a short, simple, and easy way to God-realization." Lord Krishna upon Uddhava's request gave the essentials of Self-realization as follows:

· Do your duty, to the best of your ability, for Me without worrying about the outcome.

· Remember Me at all times. (Note that this is the point of chanting things like the mahamantra - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Kare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare which is often chanted in kirtan or a variation of it. The whole point of kirtan and mantra is remembrance.)

· Perceive that God is within every living being. Mentally bow down to all beings and treat all beings equally.

· Perceive through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions that the power of God is within you at all times, and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument and a trustee.

Answer 5

Bhakti Yoga means the "path of devotion." It is through the love for Krishna that liberates you. This is one of the four paths of liberation. The rest are "jnana yoga" (path of knowledge), "raja yoga" (path of meditation), and "karma yoga" (path of action/selfless service).

The Hare Krishna's belief is that by giving Krishna their love and devotion, they can be liberated.

"Only by love can men see me, and know me, and come unto me" 11.54 Bhagavad Gita.

Back when Krishna walked among us, all of the gopi's became liberated just by only giving Krishna their love and devotion. They had never sat down to meditate nor did they study scripture.

Of the four paths mentioned above, bhakti yoga is the most powerful and easiest way of all. My guru Mata Amritanandamayi also teaches us about bhakti yoga, and that just five minutes of crying to God equals to one hour of meditation.

Wiki has a very good article explaining what Bhakti Yoga is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti_yoga

I am also a bhakta of my guru Amma. Ever since I started following the principles of this path for about a year, I have grown so much closer to God and experienced more Divine Love than I ever did studying spirituality the past 18 years. It is extremely effective and powerful. Love propells us towards God.

Answer 6

Every one has his own way of praying The God. In Geeta there are three Yogas namely Bhakti,Karma and Ghyan Yoga. The verses are 2/50 and 5/2 also. It is their philosophy that they pray through this medium. No one should criticize any one so long as the person is not doing evil to others and in particular society.

Answer 7

Yoga: (true meaning is "union")

a school of Hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.

union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.

bhakti:

the devotional way of achieving salvation, emphasizing the loving faith of a devotee for a deity and open to all persons irrespective of sex or caste.

Put the two words together and it may become more clear why ...

Answer 8

claim ?? it's not a claim- it's a fact

'ssrvj' likes to think he is a great scholar but fails to refute anything I say

but knowledge is not enough to understand the truth about God
Gita say -bhaktya mam abhijanati= only by devotion can I be known

and Sri Bhagavat Maha Purana also says

SB 10.14.29: My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they continue to study the Vedas for many years.


I think ssrvj has become envious of the vaisnavs

Answer 9

What Mypreshus talking :-
"a school of Hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle." is Yoga Paadhanjalam
The word "Yogam" is derived from the Sanskrit root(Dhaatup)
"Yuj" meaninig Union---There somany kinds of Union =Yogam --Sahasra Yogam in Pharmacetics---Parivraajaka yogam in Astrology---Yoga Ratnaavali in medicine--Like wise Lord-GOD- sri.Krishna says in bhagavad geetha thet a person can attain "Salvation"=Mukthi or Moksham by Gjnaana Yogam or Karma Yogam or Bhakthi Yogam (devout worship of God-Union denotes the relationship of the devotee and God)--The Hare Krishna people do not know and understand the intricacies and all aspects of Hindu Religion ,but like "Parrots" they will blabour what their mentor Prabhupaadha has told them without understanding the deep meaning.

Answer 10

sssrvi is a word juggler-like a circus clown- he makes me laugh--Yama is soon going to slap sense into him for being always envious of the great and pure Vaishnavas who spread bhakti yoga throughout the world--
Bhakti- means devotion and love-
yoga -yoke--to yoke or link with the Supreme--this is true yoga --the soul to the Soul-mate--God--
Exercise is for the body and was better suited for an age where mediation for many hours was the process-so the body had to be limber for long hours of meditation--