True Nature of Worship by Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya..Part - 3

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Dear All,

 

Continuity of is also doubtful in case of those worshippers whose *upasana *is

based upon elaborate rituals and show-off. For one, this kind of

*upasana *takes

up a lot of time, very little of which can a man usually spare in his busy

life. Secondly, to collect the required variety of equipments and appliances

a lot of money is needed. In these costly times when it has become difficult

to just make ends meet, how can a man continue an expensive *upasana*? To

continue it, an ordinary being would have to cut into some of family

expenses which would certainly cause him or his family some sort of

financial problems indirectly, if not directly. To meet expenses of *upasana

*he would have to divert his attention to make adjustments to his domestic

budget. So such *upasana *would translate into a financial planning, which

may create more mental tension than any internal peace, and in such a

situation it is doubtful that *upasana*would last too long.

 

Excessive ostentation and show off is not good for *upaana eithe*r. A

worshipper who lives unusual life is seen by the society as odd. Some look

at him with curiosity, some with respect and others regard him as a great

worshipper (*upasaka*). Due to this, until the mental state of the *upasaka

*has ascended to a certain level, his mental feelings do not create the

desired effect. By becoming a symbol of curiosity in the society, he keeps

vacillating between times of extreme pleasure and sadness, which does not

have beneficial effect on his *sadhana*. In addition, an ostentatious *upasaka

*considers himself as a special person in the society and regards himself

more pious than other ordinary beings. Sometimes he needs to express such

feelings to others to maintain this ostentation. Because he considers

himself special and superior than others, pride begins to swell within him,

which works like poison adulterated in the nectar of *upasana*.

 

To be normal from within along with being simple and normal from outside is

more beneficial to an *upasaka*. Due to their usual nature and value

systems, most people get more attracted to ostentation. As a result, in

place of paying attention to enhancing his dedication and devotional

sentiments, the *upasaka *gets trapped in the attraction of popularity in

public and begins to pay attention to ostentation.

*

 

*Lack of self-control on time and *sadhana *is also one reason that does not

bring about requisite seriousness in the *upaaka*. The desired intrinsic

values and sentimental impressions (*sanskaras*) do not get inscribed in the

mind and the brain which drive the *upasana *to regularity and depth and the

*upasaka *to spiritual benefits. To worship at any odd time is the same kind

of religious or spiritual irregularity as that of food habits and lifestyle.

Such irregular *upasana*, in place of making a person spiritually

enlightened turns him into a spiritually sick; then to expect any peace or

happiness from such an *upasana *would be an unusual fantasy.

 

Changing the deity (divine focus) of *upasana *means that you play with

divine powers like toys without giving importance to their grace. This means

that their importance depends upon your predilection. At the same time this

alteration also exposes the feeling that you consider one divine power to be

superior or inferior to another. Such feeling of inequality and lack of

faith is very dangerous in the realm of *upasana*. With this kind of

attitude, only mental fickleness increases and as a result neither does the

mind settle into *upasana *nor does it bear any fruit.

True *upasana *is that which is performed without desires, which is directed

towards one chosen deity believing it to be the abode of God's authority,

adopting a single procedure, adopting self control; which is practised with

a concentrated mind as an integral part of daily routine, and done with

regularity and without ostentation. Such *upasana *continues uninterrupted

life long and also bears fruit. In this world all substances and all actions

are only resources.

 

The true goal of life is just one - spiritual peace. If peace is lacking in

one's soul then any amount of affluence, talent, or power one may possess,

any amount of respect or prestige he may have in the society, he cannot

experience anything that termed as happiness. In the absence of spiritual

peace great kings and successful men who we believe have enjoyed all the

worldly pleasures and accomplished life, have died a fearful death full of

discontentment. Their soul leaves the body while they writhe in agony and

they leave this world while crying disconsolately. When all the worldly

pleasures and objects have been enjoyed, why cry when the end is near?

 

 

..... To Be Coninued ....

 

Author : Pt Shriram Sharma Acharya

Source : www.awgp.org www.awgpsouth.org