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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
There can be no fear in love, nor can bhakti be said to begin so long as one is afraid to approach its object. But the remedy for fear does not consist in regarding God as one's child, but in transferring one's attention from an unnatural to the natural object of adoration ; for while no one can eternally entertain a feeling of love for an enemy or a chastising dignitary, however much one might 'respect' him for his might, the heart is immediately and inalienably drawn to the true object of love, the moment it is proved to be worthy of adoration.
Similarly, there is no room in bhakti for begging or bargaining with the Beloved. The idea of begging for favours is a sacrilege to the bhakta. He will not pray for help, health, wealth, or even to go to heaven. He who wishes to embark on the path of Love must give up all such desires, and fill his mind with holy thoughts. He who desires to come into the presence of the Beloved must make a bundle of all shop-keeping religion and cast it away from him before he can be allowed to set his foot within the shrine.
It is not that you do not get what you pray for, for that depends on the working of certain laws of nature; but it is low and vulgar,-a beggar's religion. Fool, indeed, is he who living on the banks of the Ganges digs a little well for water. Fool, indeed, is hie who coming to a diamond mine begins to search for glass beads. These prayers for help, health, wealth and material prosperity are not bhakti; they are the lowest form of karma; and they stand in the way of realization of the soul's. great Ideal.
Love is an emotion, not an exchange of goods, or
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