Bhagavad Gita Group Discussions - Devotion /Bhakti Yoga Musings

In this week's episode, we discuss Bhakti or devotion. We cover the following broad topics (not in any particular order): 1. When does one externalize 'God'? In what form does one externalize it? Is there any specific form? 2. Is there anything wrong to not even 'externalize' God? If one does not externalize, then why they don't do it? 3. Does Gita recommend externalizing God? And for whom is it applicable? 4. Are rituals (like doing puja, going to temples) an act of stupidity? 5. Is Krishna confusing us by introducing Karma Yoga (selfless action) when talking about Bhakti Yoga (devotion)? How should we resolve this confusion, if at all there is any? 6. Why does Arjuna get confused again? In the initial chapters of Gita, he is confused if Sanyasa is better than karma yoga, and now he is asking if it is better than bhakti-yoga? 7. Is having a karma-yoga attitude good enough and can one let go of rituals? 8. What IS the purpose of rituals? 9. What is the difference between roles & real person? How much of our life is dependent on where our 'identity' is 10.  What exactly is 'surrender'? Is it being apathetic? 11. What is 'love'? [seems trivial a question...as several of us may have seen /experienced what is love. Can we express it in words adequately?] 12. What is the ladder of spiritual progress: karma yoga-bhakti yoga-dhyana yoga? Or something else? 13. Does one need to let go of all relationships, worldly work, and become a Sannyasi to realize moksha? 14. And, what exactly is our definition of moksha? [this Q is to make sure we tie this chapter to the first chapter - Arjuna's problem]