Devotion: Perspective of an Ishaya Monk

By Maheśvari Ishaya

For an Ishaya, devotion is neither an abstract concept nor a feeling that comes and goes depending on circumstances. It is a living state of conscious surrender, an inner orientation toward what is most true and permanent within us: the peace that never changes, the stillness that sustains everything, the love that needs no conditions to exist. It is a deliberate choice, renewed moment by moment, to remember who we are and to live from that remembrance.

On this path, we do not build an external altar that must be kept lit, because the altar is within. Devotion is not directed toward a distant figure, nor does it depend on a ritual or a specific place. It is an intimate dialogue with the Self, with that silent presence that has always been within us, even in the moments when we believed ourselves completely alone.

Devotion is like a thread woven through every experience, reminding us that everything – absolutely everything – can become a doorway to the Eternal.

The human mind is like a river in constant motion. Its waters are made of thoughts, memories, emotions, expectations, plans and judgments. The current is sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent. Without devotion, we can spend our whole life being carried away by this current without realising there is another option.

With devotion, we learn to sit on the shore and watch the water flow. We do not need to stop the river; it is enough to recognise that we are not part of the current, but rather the space in which the river flows. The practice of the Ishayas’ Ascension is like a steady rock in the middle of that river. When the mind is restless, it gives us a stable point to return to.

At first, it may be challenging to remain there—the habit of being swept away by the current is strong. But with constancy, we discover that the rock is more real than the river itself. And that, as we sit there, our view broadens, our breathing calms down, and our whole life becomes clearer.

Devotion – The Doorway To Simplicity

Devotion is not always expressed in grand gestures; more often, it lives in the simple things: using the Ascension techniques every day, even when it seems there is no time; choosing to return to the present moment even when the mind is tempted to wander; opening ourselves to what is, without demanding it to be different; listening to another person with full presence, without preparing an answer while they speak; serving from a place of peace, without seeking recognition or reward.

These acts may seem small, but devotion turns the ordinary into the sacred. Washing dishes, answering a message, walking down the street—everything becomes part of the practice when devotion permeates our attention.

Passion and devotion are often confused, but they are distinct. Passion is an intense fire that needs fuel: emotion, inspiration, the desire to achieve something. It can be easily ignited, but it can also be extinguished as soon as the fuel runs out. Devotion, on the other hand, is like the heat of the sun: constant, silent, independent of the clouds. Even on dark days, it remains.

Passion can be a helpful starting point; it is the spark that motivates us to try something new. But it is devotion that sustains us when the spark becomes embers. Devotion does not depend on being “in the mood” to practice; it is the decision to practice even when we don’t feel like it, precisely because we understand its value.

At times, devotion means letting go of old habits, beliefs, or priorities. To the mind, this may seem like a sacrifice. But from the perspective of the Self, nothing real is lost. What we release is merely unnecessary weight that slows our steps.

Devotion does not require us to renounce the world, but rather the illusion that we must cling to everything to be safe. In practice, this might mean ceasing to feed negative thoughts, reducing the time spent on distractions, or choosing relationships that nourish rather than drain us. At first, it may feel like a loss; over time, it reveals itself as an act of love toward oneself.

Devotion Is Born Of Love

I remember a student once asked me, “What if one day I don’t feel like practising?” I replied, “That’s the most important day to do it.” Devotion is not measured on easy days, when the mind is calm and the heart is open. It is measured on the grey days, when everything feels like an effort and the practice seems to yield no immediate results. That is when devotion shows its true face: the silent determination to remain faithful to the path, even when the landscape is not the most inspiring.

True devotion is born of love—not the conditional love that says “I love you if…,” but a love that sees the divine in everything and everyone. A love that recognises every moment as an opportunity to remember. When devotion is rooted in this love, it is no longer an effort; it is a natural way of being in the world. At that point, practice ceases to be something we “do” to connect with peace and becomes the very mode of living: we live from peace. Devotion no longer has a specific object, because it becomes the continuous expression of our true nature.

When devotion matures, everything in life falls into alignment with it. Actions, decisions, even the words we choose, arise from a stable centre. This does not mean there are no challenges or difficulties; it means our response to them is infused with presence. In this state, there is no separation between practice and life. Cooking, working, talking, driving—all are part of the same current of awareness. And, curiously, this is when the sense of effort disappears. Devotion is no longer something maintained by discipline; it becomes the natural flow of existence.

One might say that devotion is like tending a fire on a mountain. At first, you must protect it from the wind, add wood, and watch that it doesn’t go out. Over time, the fire becomes stable, able to endure despite the wind and the cold. Eventually, the heat not only warms you—it offers refuge to others.

Another image is that of a garden. Devotion is the hand that sows, waters, and cares for it, even when no flowers are visible. It knows that life grows beneath the surface, invisible yet powerful. And when the flowers do appear, devotion does not stop tending; it understands that the garden is a living being that needs constant care.

Service – The Fruit Of Devotion

In the Ishaya tradition, devotion is also expressed through service, not as a moral duty, but as a natural act of sharing what we have discovered. Serving does not mean imposing, but rather offering a space in which others can remember their own peace. It can be as simple as listening without interrupting, helping without expecting anything in return, or simply being present for someone in silence. Devotion to the Self inevitably translates into devotion to life in all its forms.

Without the inner clarity and discernment that come from direct experience, devotion can become distorted and misdirected. If confused with attachment, idolatry, or rigidity, it can degenerate into fanaticism, dependency, or manipulation. Even in spiritual contexts, it can be used as an excuse to avoid personal responsibility, handing over authority to external people or structures. This is why, in the Ishayas’ Ascension, devotion is always directed toward what is eternal and unchanging—never toward anything that can be lost or corrupted. True devotion liberates; it never chains.

Devotion in the Ishayas’ Ascension is a silent, constant force that supports the awakening of consciousness. It does not seek recognition nor require special conditions; it is lived in every breath, every step, every instant we choose to return to the Self.

It is more than a commitment to a practice: it is a way of living from truth, allowing the peace and love we are to be fully expressed. And when devotion becomes our natural way of existing, we discover there is no goal to reach—the goal has always been this moment.