Why should we worship Ishwara?

[Guest guest]

Without causing further digression, I would like to quote the words

of Pujya Swami Tapovan Maharaj, which explains why we should worship

the personal god. These words of the Great Master helps us to

understand the meaning and significance of the worship, which is part

and parcel of the traditional advaita sampradaya.

 

(Quote)

 

Perhaps, by attending the lectures, you will understand

intellectually the non-creation theory. You may feel intellectually

convinced that the TurIya-Brahman alone is real and that the world of

other three states is not really created and hence it is a long, long

dream. But to realize the Reality as " I am TurIya-Brahman " and to

experience it, and to get established in it, is quite far far away,

from mere academic understanding of the VedAnta.

 

Therefore, don't neglect God. By God's grace alone can His Real

Nature, the TurIya state be realized. Practice the love and devotion

to God. Chant His name. Praise his glory and always meditate upon His

greatness. Do all the works as a worship unto Him. In course of time,

by such practice, after acquiring purity and concentration of this

impure and wavering mind, you will be able to see face to face and

realize the eternal, blissful, TurIya-Brahman.

 

Perhaps it is with this idea in the mind that along with the

preaching of the non-creation theory, the akanda kIrtana of the

personal God is also being conducted as an important item in the

yajnaShAlA.

 

(Unquote)

 

(This passage appears in a benedictory letter written to Pujya

Chinmayanandaji, at the time of the jnAna yajna in the year 1953. In

this yajna Chinmayanandaji gave discourses on the mAndukya upanishad.)

 

Quite often we forget that the vedanta itself is a gift from the

lord, which is given out of his boundless mercy and compassion for

the ignorant bound soul like us.

 

Yours in Shri Ramakrishna,

 

Br. Vinayaka