Does doing bhajans of God come under theoretical devotion or practical devotion to God?

[A question by Ms. Laxmi Thrylokya]

Swāmi Replied:- It comes under theoretical devotion only because both Jñānayoga and Bhaktiyoga are theoretical. Only, the third step, Karmayoga is practical devotion. Of course, in Jñānayoga, you speak knowledge and speaking is action. Similarly, in Bhaktiyoga, you sing divine songs and singing is also action. In that sense, if you take Karmayoga as mere action, everything in this creation is basic Karmayoga only. Even in the human being made of atoms of matter and quanta of energy (inert energy as well as the awareness), both matter and energy are dynamic and action only. The sub-atomic particles in an atom are dynamic. You shall not take practice or action in this basic sense. Of course, in the case of God, theoretical devotion is also very important. Practical devotion or Karmayoga is sacrifice of service and fruit of work. Thinking that practical devotion is all in all, you shall not do practical devotion alone without theoretical devotion. If you throw a coin on the face of a beggar, he will salute you and take it since he is in need of it. But, God is not in need of your sacrifice of fruit of work. He is only testing you whether your love to Him is real (practical) or not just like the grandfather is begging his grandson for a bit of biscuit eaten by him even though the grandfather only bought and brought the packet of biscuits. Hence, all the three steps are equally important.

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