How To Develop Devotion (Motivation) for the Ultimate Goal -- Non-Duality (Advaita)

How To Develop Devotion (Motivation) for the Ultimate Goal -- Non-Duality (Advaita)

In this talk, we explore how devotion and motivation arise within us, and how they can be consciously refined and redirected toward the highest realization: Non-Dual Awareness (Advaita).

I. Devotion in Bhakti Yoga vs. Devotion in Jnana Yoga

Devotion in Bhakti Yoga expresses itself as love for the Divine and surrender to his/her will. It aims at developing a personal relationship with God. It purifies the heart through humility and trust.

Devotion in Jnana Yoga, however, is an inner burning desire for Truth — an unwavering love for Reality itself. Here, devotion leads to studying Advaita teachings, introspection, observation and giving attention to Consciousness. Both paths meet in the same place: the dissolution of the ego and realization that pure Awareness as our True Nature.

II. The Seven Fundamental Motivations of the Soul-Mind-Body System

The soul-mind-body system expresses its motivations through seven energy centers known as chakras:

1- Root (Muladhara): Survival

2- Sacrum (Svadhisthana): Sensory pleasures, including sexuality

3- Solar Plexus (Manipura): the pursue of self-esteem by developing a personality that is likable in our own eyes.

4- Heart (Anahata): The desire to give and receive human love (the human side of the heart chakra) as well as the desire to experience Divine, unconditional Love (the Divine side of the chakra). Unconditional Love generates intense Happiness as Joy.

5- Throat (Vishuddha): To express the soul's creativity and desire to serve others - the soul's agenda.

6- Third Eye (Ajna): Desire to find the Truth about oneself and the Universe.

7- Crown (Sahasrara): Desire to experience Union with the totality and attain full Liberation. The flowering of Love.

III. Practical application : Using Awareness to Awaken the upper chakras, which means to increase our higher motivations:

Wherever you place Awareness, energy follows. Bringing Awareness to a particular chakra amplifies the motivation that springs from it. Thus, by focusing your attention on the Ajna center (between the eyebrows), you naturally awaken the desire for Truth, clarity, and Liberation.

As you withdraw attention from the lower centers (concerned with survival, pleasure, developing the persona and human love) and move upward towards the higher ones, your entire life begins to transform.

This upward redirection of energy turns you away from the lower nature and awakens your spiritual nature. What you give attention and passion to becomes your reality — and the highest devotion (motivation) is to seek and realize that your True Nature is the Universal, One Consciousness.

Through wise use of the Attention (Awareness ), you awaken devotion for the Truth, and transcend the human obsession with its basic needs. Gradually, you develop supreme longing for the Truth. It is only from that longing that Liberation comes; without devotion you can't take even the first step, simply because the motivation isn't there. Devotion for the Truth brings Ultimate Liberation. -- Realization of you are Non-Dual Consciousness beyond all opposites and stabilization of the Divine State.