Sri RamaKrishna says one needs images and symbols so long as God is not realized in His true form

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The disciple asked: " Bhagavan, one may believe that God is with form, but

surely He is not in the earthen images that are worshipped? " Sri Ramakrishna

replied: " My dear sir, why do you say earthen images? The image of the

Divine Being is made of the spirit. "

 

The disciple could not understand the meaning of this, but answered: " Yet

should it not be one's duty to make clear to those who worship images that

God is not the same as the images and that at the time of worship they

should think of God Himself and not of the image made of clay? "

 

The Bhagavan said: " The Lord of the universe teaches mankind. He who has

made the sun and moon, men and brutes; He who has created things for them to

live upon, parents to tend and rear them; He who has done so many things

will surely do something to bring them to the light. [p. 63]

 

The Lord dwells in the temple of the human body. He knows our innermost

thoughts. If there is anything wrong in image worship, does He not know that

all worship is meant for Him? He will be pleased to accept it knowing that

it is for Him. Why should you worry yourself about things which are beyond

your reach? Try to realize God and love Him. This is your first duty. " You

speak of images made of clay.

 

Well, there often comes a necessity for worshipping such images and symbols.

In Vedanta it is said, the absolute Existence-Intelligence-Bliss pervades

the universe and manifests itself through all forms. What harm is done by

worshipping the Absolute through images and symbols? We see little girls

with their dolls.

 

How long do they play with them? So long as they are not married. After

marriage they put away those dolls. Similarly, one needs images and symbols

so long as God is not realized in His true form. It is God Himself who has

provided these various forms of worship. [p. 64]

 

The Master of the universe has done all this to suit different men in

different stages of spiritual growth and knowledge. The mother so arranges

the food for her children that each one gets what is best for him. Suppose a

mother has five children with one fish to cook for all. She will make

different dishes of it that she may give to each just what suits him,-- the

rich pulao for one, soup for another, fried fish for a third, fish with sour

tamarind for a fourth and so on, exactly according to the power of digestion

of each.

 

Source: THE GOSPEL OF RAMAKRISHNA Revised by SWAMI ABHEDANANDA

 

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Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram

 

Love And Love Alone