D. The Moods of Devotional Yoga
The moods of the yoga of devotion to Small Face vary. Some devotees may
have a strong emotional sense of being creatures in the Lord YHVH’s
(or any other Small Face Chosen Ideal) dream-universe. Others may feel like
servants of the Lord YHVH the Master; or like the Lord YHVH’s dear
friend, sister, or brother; or like the Lord YHVH’s wife, or husband,
or secret paramour. Devotional Yoga can bring to the forefront the highest
fruits of each mood, and spill over into relations with family, friends,
teachers, lovers, and strangers. Devotional Yoga seeks a personal, intimate
relation with the Divine, infused with devotional passion and fulfilling
one’s deepest emotional needs.
Some of the clearest and most detailed accounts of the experiences associated
with devotional moods are found in the teachings of the Vaishnavas of Bengal
in Northern India. The Vaishnavas are ardent devotees of Vishnu’s incarnations,
especially Rama, Krishna, and Chaitanya. In Vaishnava teachings, the moods
of love are called bhavas, and they are taken to their highest possible
spiritual expression in bhava samadhi (lit. devotional mood union).
Bhava samadhi is ecstatic absorption in one’s Chosen Ideal in
the context of a particular mood. The highest (and rarest) of the bhavas
in the Vaishnava teachings is called madhura bhava (lit. Sweet Mood).
The madhura bhava is the female mood of the wife/paramour toward
God-the-Husband or Secret Beloved, characterized by prema (ecstatic
love). In Vaishnava literature, the madhura bhava is embodied
in Radha, a principal consort of Sri Krishna, and in Sita, wife of Rama.
All of the devotional moods are found variously among devotees in all mystical
traditions relative to their respective Chosen Ideals.
Within the mystical community, there are some aspirants who have awakened
to a condition of permanent awareness in the lower astral states of the
World of Yetzirah. Most such individuals access this station of consciousness
by exiting the waking state; some are able to access it while simultaneously
maintaining an operative awareness in the waking state. Either way, there
is some danger that attachment to this type of psychic ability can be an
entrapment that inhibits further spiritual growth. Among advanced devotees,
there are some who awaken to a condition of continuous awareness of their
Chosen Small Face Ideal within the context of a particular bhava.
As with the lower psychic condition described above, most access this state
by exiting their bodies in sleep or trance. A smaller number are seen to
maintain a simultaneous awareness in the waking state of the World of Asiyah,
and the higher astral states of the World of Yetzirah. Hence, while in the
waking state, they may literally see the form of their Chosen Ideal everywhere,
in everything. While this station is more desirable than entrapment in the
lower psychic states, it can still present a temptation to become addicted
to the bliss of this experience, preventing further progress up the Tree.
Overcoming such an addiction is no small task, and often requires the intervention
of an advanced spiritual mentor. Also, frequent intense ananda samadhis
can be especially taxing to the nervous system of most humans.
