Dear Mrs. Joshi,
An object can be recognized
through its associated smell, taste, form, touch, and name. These five modes
correspond to the spiritual elements (panchatattva) that every created object
is composed of. The five elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. The
spiritual energy of each object co-exists with its spiritual elements. If we
compare an ordinary stone to a stone statue of Lord
Shiva or Jesus, the statue
has more spiritual energy than the stone. The closer to perfection the statue
is, that is, the more it resembles the divine principle that it represents, greater
is its spiritual energy. This energy that radiates from the statue increases
the spiritual purity of the persons in its vicinity. Thus, keeping sacred symbols
like statues in one’s surroundings and using
them in worship positively affects one’s spiritual
practice. In comparison,
the statues made according to what appeals to the gross rather than the subtlesenses, have less spiritual energy. Hence, self-originated temples radiate more
spiritual energy than those built by people.
Further, an external reminder like
a sacred symbol is instrumental in the seeker’s
progress in the initial stages of the seeker’s spiritual practice on the
Path of Devotion.
Thus, Holy symbols like a status of a divine principle can facilitate
spiritual practice, as it not only acts as an external tool, but also emanates
spiritual energy of the divine principle that it symbolizes. For example, a Holy
symbol of the Christ emanates the Christ’s spiritual energy. |
