Write a 2-page essay about bhakti (devotion) to God in the Hindu context.
(1) First define what bhakti means
(2) Discuss how bhakti is exemplified in either the Rāmāyaṇa or the Bhagavad Gītā (part of the Mahābhārata). What do the events, relationships, or statements made in either of these stories tell us about the doctrine and practice of bhakti?
(3) Discuss how stories about Kṛṣṇa in the Purāṇas (presented in lecture) exemplify bhakti.
(4) In your opinion, does bhakti exist in Thai Buddhism? If so, contrast it with what we have seen of bhakti in Hinduism. If not, explain your viewpoint.
(5) In your view, what might be the ethical ramifications of bhakti? In other words, if you are devoted to a higher being like God, what social imperatives does that entail? Give examples to explain your perspective.