IDEAL WORSHIP

IDEAL WORSHIP


---- Sri Sri Ravishankar


For a flame to go up, you need space above. In the same way, for a man to rise up in his life, he needs an ideal, he needs something to adore and worship. Worship is the culmination of love and appreciation. Worship prevents love from turning into hatred or jealousy, and appreciation into low self-esteem.


In life, if you do not adore or appreciate anything, you will be filled with negativity. And a person who has nothing to worship or adore is sure to fall into depression. Lack of adoration has led to many emotional, psychological and social problems in the society. If you have nothing to hold up high in life, selfishness, arrogance and violence are sure to follow. Adoring and honouring each other in society eliminates stress and fosters compassion and love.


In the previous century, it was thought that worshipping was an uncivilised and unintelligent thing to do. Worship was thought to rise from a slavish mentality. On the contrary, worship can only happen through gratefulness.
In worship, a sense of belongingness, love, honour and respect all  come together. Without a sense of belongingness, worship or idealism can bring low self-esteem. The ancient people knew this so they insisted that people should feel part of what they worship. They encouraged people to worship the sun, moon, mountain,rivers, plants, animals and people.
Worship in a true sense is a sign of maturity and not weakness.
Reason is reeling in the known , Faith is moving in the unknown.
Reason is repetition , Faith is exploration.
Reason is routine , Faith is adventure.
They are completely opposite, yet an integral part of life.


Not having faith itself is misery; faith gives instant comfort. While reasoning keeps you sane and grounded, no miracle can happen without faith. Faith takes you beyond limitations. In faith you can transcend the laws of nature but it needs to be pure. Faith is beyond reason, yet you need to have faith in your own reasoning! Faith and reason cannot exist without each other. Every reason is based on some faith. Whenever reason or faith breaks, confusion and chaos prevails which is often a step for growth.


There are two types of faith.
Faith out of fear, greed and insecurity;
and faith born out of love like the faith between the mother and the child, the master and disciple. Whereas the faith out of love cannot be broken, faith out of fear and greed is shaky.
An atheist bases himself on reason, and a believer on faith. A believer uses God as an insurance policy! He thinks he is special. In the eyes of God there is no `mine' and `others'; all are the same. An atheist rationalises to keep his eyes shut to reality. Only a yogi - a wise one - remains unshaken. For that person has transcended both reason and faith.
You need a balance between faith and reason.


　
Jai Gurudev !