| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
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| Discourses On Gita |
| BHAKTI : SAGUNA AND NIRGUNA |
| When a builder puts up an arch, he
supports it from below; but once the arch is set, the support is removed. It is only when it stands
without the support, that we say that the support has done its work. It is
true that the river of inspiration rises in saguna but it should reach
perfection in fidelity to principle, it should flow into nirguna. From the
womb of bhakti, jnana should be born. From the creeper of bhakti, the flower of jnana should blossom.
15. Lord Buddha knew this. Hence he prescribed the three dedications. Through at first the attachment is to a person, there should develop from it attachment to principle; if this is not possible all at once, there should be, at least attachment to the institution, in between. The loyalty which once was paid to an individual, must now spread to ten or fifteen. When there is no loyalty to a sangha or an institution, the members would start quarreling among themselves. First, dedication to an individual, then dedication to an institution, and finally, dedication to the principle. That is why the Buddhists take three vows of dedication - "buddham sharanam gachhaami sangham sharanam gachhaami dhammam sharanam gachhaami." First, loyalty to the person, then to the sangha, but neither of these is strong enough. Only when loyalty to principles is established, the institution begins to produce results. The stream of inspiration may begin in saguna, but should meet and merge in the sea of nirguna. Without nirguna, saguna is imperfect. |
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