We all speak and read a lot about visiting many temples to worship God and this brings more of Spirituality in us.
A devotee had been very happy that he was spiritual as he visited many Krishna temples, and worshipped so many times in those temples by regularly going there and offering flowers.
One day he was on a pilgrimage to Dwarka and by this visit to Dwarka his worship would be complete and he would be very spiritual and nothing more would be needed to be done by him as he was very close to Krishna. He met on the way an old saint he prostrated before the old saint.
''Where are you from?''
''I belong to a small village in Tamilnadu Swamiji''
''oh. you are from that far. What brought you here?''
''I am spiritual minded and visit many temples to see god and thought it would not be complete until I visited Dwarka, to meet and see Krishna ''
''What will you do when you go to Dwarka?''
''I will sit and pray''
When the saint laughed the devotee asked ''Why do you laugh swami?''
''Spirituality does not mean visiting many temples or seeing many idols . Have you seen God before or know Him?'
''No"
''Then how can you worship Him if you dont know Him?. Your sitting and praying is only a ritual Is n't it? ''
The devotee was confused. ''Please teach me swamiji''
''Your worship is not real worship. In the present day world, people go to temple to meet the god with a long list their wishes to get fulfilled. It is just a laundry list. Entering the holy temple to have a commercial deal with GOD, that is, ''if u do this to me, I will do this (example abhishekam, Sahasranama Archana) to you''.
''Swamiji I understand you. Please tell me how to show my LOVE to GOD''
Laughing again the saint replied '' how can you show your LOVE to GOD whom you dont know or seen?''
''Then how can I see God , swamiji?''
''You can ONLY feel GOD not see GOD''.
''What is the way to feel GOD?''
''The answer to that is through Meditation (Dhyanam) you can feel certainly God''.
''Swamiji I want to know if there is any relationship between GOD and Meditation?''
''NO''
The devotee was more confused now and looked at the swamiji helplessly.
The saint explained ''Meditation brings calmness (Mounam) within you. You will realize or feel GOD while you are calm''.
''Swamiji then I want calmness and peace.''
''Discard the first 2 words (I want) and peace will be with you afterwards.''
Another person who just was returning after visiting the temple met the saint and bowed.
''I am very happy swamiji''
''What makes you feel so happy'' asked the swamiji to him.
''I was so close to GOD at about 10 feet distance only and none was so close to GOD as I was''
The saint just laughs. The devotee asks the saint to explain his laughing.
''Always remember that the physical distance does not constitute your closeness to GOD''. For that matter, the priests in temple is even closer to GOD than you''
The devotee from Tamilnadu interrupts ''After discussions with you, I feel like going back home''.
'''Why you changed your mind not heading towards the temple''
''I first want to feel GOD then only want to offer prayer. I understand now that I want to move away from me to feel or realize GOD. I will do Meditation to get calmness and peace. I realise spirituality means moving away from oneself not getting close to anything.''.
More and More one moves away from oneself, more and more one goes near GOD or feels GOD.
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