The attitude of the worshipper and the worshipped is the seed
of Bhakthi. First, the worshipper's mind is attracted by the
special qualities of the object of worship. He tries to acquire
for himself these special qualities. This is the Sadhana. In the
early stages of Sadhana, the distinction between worshipper and
worshipped is full but, as the Sadhana progresses, this feeling
will diminish and when attainment is reached, there will be no
distinction whatsoever. Whatever may be the object of worship one
has grasped and loved and sought by Sadhana, one should have firm
faith that Jivatma is Paramaatma. There is only one wish fit to be
entertained by the Sadhaka: and that is the realisation of the
Lord, Iswara Saakshaatkaara. There is no room in the mind for any
other wish. That is why Kunthi Devi prayed thus to Lord Krishna:
"Let us have always, O, Jagadguru, distress and misery, if only
You grant us Your Darsan, the Darsan which destroys rebirth."
The Bhaktha who desires the Supreme and seeks to attain it
should have this mental attitude. Then, regardless of joy and
sorrow, without any worry about one's own satisfaction he will
engage himself in Sadhana firmly, uninterruptedly, and with
conviction, and after understanding the Reality, he will have full
contentment.
From this point of view, there is no difference between a
Jivanmuktha and a Bhaktha; they are both beyond Ahamkara,
Prakrithi with its three attributes, and Varnashrama Dharma. The
hearts of such will be full of compassion and the urge to do good
to the world. It is their Brahmananda which impels them to act in
this way. Such a Bhaktha will have no desires, for desires are the
products of 'I'-and-'mine' feelings. Only after they are uprooted,
a person becomes a Bhaktha. There can be no room in him for
desire. He is a Bhaktha of Amrithaswarupa, Immortal Nature. For
one with that Amrithaswarupa, there can be no appetite except for
the sweetness of Ananda.