The Gita according to Gandhi 109

The Gita according to Gandhi -Mahadev Desai

BHAKHYOGA (Discourses 9-11) "They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth." Let him know that he who worships God will go to God and he who worships stone will go to stone (IX. 25). But once the bhakta has hold on the Reality and steadfast faith, God expects very little of him. In one word, let him do whatever he has to do - be it working, eating, sacrificing, going through any vow or penance - let him do it as an offering to Him, let him do it to His glory. For there is nothing, however trifling, offered in earnest devotion, that the Lord does not love to accept. Shabari, the pariah woman, who tasted her wild fruit, lest it be bitter, before she offered it to the Lord, and her devotion which compelled the Lord to eat the tasted fruit with extra zest, are as much remembered as the Lord Himself. A bhakta in such self-effacing devotion combines both sannyasa and yoga and wins to the Lord. The Lord favours none, disfavours none, but belongs to them who belongs to Him. And thus the most confirmed sinner, having resolved to die to sin and live to Him may earn the epithet of a saint.