Temple worship - Erica - 1

[Guest guest]

Dear Erica,<br><br>It was really nice to read

your view about visiting temples and experiencing

sattvik vibrations from them and also perceiving the

difference in shades of sattvikta. Regarding your questions

we can share our knowledge as follows:<br><br>Do you

attend temple regularly? <br>Yes. Previously we used to

visit temples regularly but recently since we get same

happiness from chanting the Name of Lord at any place there

is no need for us to visit temples regularly but we

try to build one within. <br><br>If so, what purpose

does it serve for you? <br>Due to sattvik (pure &

holy) environment, chanting is smoother in the temple

or place of worship. Therefore, at such places, one

should chant at least one mala (rosary or a string of

beds).<br><br>Here we would like to paste the view of one Saint on

the importance of temples and places of worship. It

is as follows: <br><br>“The jiva (embodied soul),

drashta (viewer) is bound by the view of external

objects. When the view is absent, the jiva is free. For

instance, one feels tempted to eat when a favorite dish is

in view. It is not so at other times. The viewer is

exposed to ever-changing scenes all the time. When will

the scenes cease? If this will happen only upon

dissolution of the Universe (parlay), the cessation of the

scenes will be meaningless, since the embodied soul too

will dissolve at that time. (According to Vedanta, the

existence of external objects is because of the viewer.) Is

there no way then, of liberating the embodied soul?

<br><br>There certainly is one path and that is to place before

the viewer such a composition of scenes, that his

very bondage to them will assist his liberation. This

implies that his attitude will get transformed from

tamasik (ignorance & inertia) to rajasik (action &

passion) and from rajasik to sattvik (purity & knowledge).

Thus, the scenes, which will liberate the viewer from

the bondage, are those of temples or places of

worship. Discourses, the singing of glories of birth and

mission of incarnations and the Lord’s divine play (also

those of his devotees) go on at such places. Upon

hearing these, contemplation occurs leading to intense

yearning, culminating in self-realization.” - H.H. Kane

Maharaj, Narayangoan,

India.<br><br>continues.....<br><br>with love <br>Sanatan <br>Glenn-Sampada