In what context a devotee can ask God to grant devotion?

[Ms. Laxmi Thrylokya asked: Swāmi, You have taught us that we should never ask devotion from God. But, in the bhajan 'dayāmaya śrī dattātreya, jñānaṃ bhaktiṃ sevāṃ dehi!' we are requesting God to give devotion (Bhakti) also. Not only in this bhajan, many bhajans sung by AMMA (Mātā Amṛtānandamayī) also contain lyrics in which soul seeks God for devotion. Kindly help us understand the right meaning of the lyrics. -At Your Divine Lotus Feet, Laxmi Thrylokya]

Swāmi replied:- There are two types of devotees:- 1) Devotees of beginning and middle level aspiring for fruit in return from God and 2) Devotees of climax aspiring no fruit in return from God. Now your question is that how the devotee asked for the devotion to God, especially when we know that there is a possibility of very clever idea of the devotee, which is that if devotion to God is attained, everything required is attained! In this context, you can examine the following possibilities of My answer:- a) this song covers all types of devotees. Hence, the devotee singing this song may be such clever devotee asking God for the omnipotent devotion (devotion is omnipotent because it can give anything like the omnipotent God can do anything) to God. b) The devotee singing this song may belong to the category of devotees having no aspiration for any fruit in return. Since the devotee has already attained such devotion, such devotee is praying God to give such pure devotion in the future also so that he/she will not lose such precious devotion in the future due to the influence of worldly fascinations. c) The devotee singing this song may actually belong to “a” type, but, the devotee has the knowledge of “b” type also. Such “a” type devotee is praying God to give the “b” type devotion.

In view of the above mentioned case of “b” type devotion, every “b” type devotee also can sing this song praying God to retain such climax devotion in the future also protecting the devotee from the influence of powerful worldly fascinations. Hence, in any case, this song can be sung by any type of human devotee.

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