The famous acronym KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid, is very much applicable to spirituality, and to me as well, in the current context. There are way too many paths, many saints, many books and so on. I've looked into them for way too much time, achieving probably not much but understanding that, Bhakti is simplest and made for me.
I've recently been trying to reduce my distractions from bhakti, not reading much other texts or trying new meditations. Trying to focus on simple guidelines provided by devotees.
I'm reading Tukaram gatha recently, almost daily, also writing on Santwani blog. He provides very straightforward guidelines related to bhakti. His abhangs, along with Ramkrishna Paramhans' instructions on calling out to God, like a kitten, have been very inspiring. I hope to continue to follow this guidance and see what God has in store for me.
Today I was reading one abhang, which is instructing to keep things simple. It goes like:
न करीं रे मना कांहीं च कल्पना । चिंतीं या चरणां विठोबाच्या ॥१॥ येथें सुखाचिया अमुपची रासी । पुढें कल्पनेसी ठाव नाहीं ॥ध्रु.॥ सुखाचें ओचिलें साजिरें श्रीमुख । शोक मोह दुःख पाहाता नाहीं ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे येथें होईल विसांवा । तुटतील धावां पुढिलिया ॥३॥
He is instructing mind, you do not think/imagine about any other thing, just think about and remember about Lord Vitthal's benevolent feet.
So, keep it simple, just think about Lord Vitthal - no need to do anything else.
There itself you'll find a treasure of infinite happiness and at his feet, after a time, there's no place for imagination.
He again says, when you look at the Lord's face, there will not be any sadness and other evil things in you. This he says time and again. He always says, "सदा माझे डोळा, जडो तुझी मूर्ती". Let me always see your face in my mind. He says at other places, if your face is not in my mind for a moment, it becomes a moment of great pains.
I think, it Sant Gora Kumbhar, who said "तुझे रूप चित्ती राहो, मुखी तुझे नाम". Having His roop in my mind is very important.
I hope Lord bestows some of his blessings and may I see His roop always in my mind.
