True Nature of Worship by Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya..Part - 7

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Dear All,

 

What's that prayer which is aimed to overcome sufferings and to satisfy

selfish desires? It is no better than begging. True prayer is that which is

offered to enhance more and more the internal riches of devotion and bliss.

For most people, when sufferings do not mitigate and selfish desires are not

fulfilled mental irritation develops towards prayer. The whole basis of

their prayers appears to be wrong. True prayer in fact continuously fills up

our pot of incompleteness. A true devotee would find satisfaction in

watching his inner pot filled up more today than it was yesterday. In an

effort to reach near the *saccid snanda *(eternal source and embodiment of

absolute bliss and divine light) how can *up³san³ *result in any despair or

annoyance? Every step taken in the direction of bliss must generate

happiness only. Distortion of the basis leads us astray and annoyance is the

results of that.

 

Prayer ascends us higher and takes us up to meet those who are already

(spiritually) evolved. The object/deity of our prayer must be such that one

who reaches near that forgets crying and learns to smile, and through his

laughter makes the whole neighboring environment laugh too. Discontentment

and sorrows are not our goals or objects of our aspirations. Then why should

we carry out an *anuÌÚh³na *(a mode of *s³dhan³*) or *³vh³na *(invocation)

and *visarjan *(ritual of completion of *up³san³*) of these? While marching

towards the supreme element our every step would take us closer and closer

to truth, benevolence and beauty. An engrossed mind and bliss are blessings

in themselves. Easy attainment of these blessings is obstructed by

contemplation of discontentment. If prayer has to be done at all, why not

adopt content and happiness and tie a knot with these with a devoted and

engrossed mind.

Prayer can never be a solicitation; it originates and is inspired by the

feeling of surrender. People have seen benefits of receiving but have not

understood the pleasure of giving. No gain or satisfaction can be compared

with the glory that we attain by performing the supreme sacrifice of

surrendering ourselves to God. When our desires get dispersed and God's

wishes begin to take their place, then it should be believed that our

prayers are attaining success in the same proportion. God's vision takes

place in this same form that He eliminates all the ugliness (vices) from the

inner self and illumines it with His beauty. In other words, in place of

wishes like mitigation of sufferings and fulfillment of selfish desires

those noble ideals get established which in the form of enlightened

engrossed of mind and bliss of heart spread their rejuvenating fragrance

everywhere, every moment. One who adopts God's wishes as his own and then

follows those, begins to feel that the supreme element is itself coming to

him and that his journey is nearing to its ultimate aim.

 

What words should be used for prayers? Sitting where do these calls get

heard? Reaching where can we sight our chosen deity? Answers to such

questions cannot be obtained by searching for any procedure or place in the

sentient world. Voice does not reach Him. Physical objects offered in the

'procedures of worship' also get scattered all around in no time. Places may

be naturally special in some way but the light that dispels all doubts of

the soul cannot be found anywhere. What eyes cannot see at all, at which

place can that be seen? The nearest place to gain closeness with the supreme

element is your own *anta¡-karaña *(inner self). That is where the power of

all *mantras*, which arises with the call of the soul, works. It is not

essential that these be taught by ancient scripts or told by the spiritual *

gurus*. When the soul reaches near the Supreme Soul then the limits of

languages are broken and the feeling of communion itself begins to sound

just like the words of speech. There is no more appropriate place than your

own *anta¡-karaña *for this meeting. True prayer is one that converts your

selfish desires into altruistic sensitivity. When the urgency to give rather

than receive begins to overcome every other impulse of mind, it can be said

that blessings of your chosen deity have begun to enshower upon you.

 

.... To Be Coninued ....

 

Author : Pt Shriram Sharma Acharya

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