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To awaken spiritual emotion rapidly, initially
one needs to make constant efforts at the level of the mind and
intellect. From Issue 206,
we discussed prayer and its importance. We also discussed how prayers
are essential to remove distressing
energies and some spiritual experiences (anubhutis)
of seekers related to prayers for the removal of distressing energies.
In this Issue we will discuss the importance of praying to various
tools to invoke spiritual emotion.
Importance of praying to tools
Tools such as the conch, bell, lamp,
etc,. used in ritualistic worship (puja) are worshipped before
worship of the deities, because they make it possible for one to
worship God. Besides, with the passage of time, a devotee gets
the spiritual experience that God exists in those tools as well.
Non-duality is established between the tool (for example, conch,
bell) and the target (God-realization).
According to this principle, if one has spiritual emotion for a
tool utilized for spiritual
practice, then most certainly at some point one experiences
the God principle in it. This was experienced by a seeker with
respect to the japamala (Hindu
rosary) as given below.
Inner guidance about divinity in the japamala:
On the morning
of August 30, 2002, as I sat with the japamala in my cupped palms
and was about to begin repetition (chanting*) of
The Lord’s Name, I had an intense thought, ‘O japamala, you are my
tool of spiritual practice. If not for you, I would not be able to repeat (chant)
The Lord’s Name’. The next moment I wondered what a tool meant and
the affectionate and peaceful response that I got from within was, ‘Whatever
one uses, whatever is useful in crisis, whatever is beneficial to oneself, a
weapon or whatever one uses in combat is a tool.’ Ever since, before beginning
repetition (chanting) of The Lord’s Name with a japamala, I offer obeisance
to it as I consider it as a deity and since then the japamala appears more sattvik (sattva
predominant).
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