ॐ
वीरेश्वराय विद्महे विवेकानन्दाय धीमहि । तन्नो वीर:
प्रचोदयात् ।
It is in love that religion exists and not in ceremony, in the
pure and sincere love in the heart. Unless a man is pure in body
and mind, his coming into atemple and worshipping Shiva is
useless. The prayers of those that are pure in mind and body
will be answered by Shiva.External worship is only a symbol of
internal worship; but internal worship and purity are the real
things.
People have become so degraded in this Kali Yuga that they think they can do anything, and then they can go to a holy place, and their sins will be forgiven. Tirtha (place of pilgrimage) is a place which is full of holy things and holy men. But if holy people live in a certain place, and if there is no temple there, even that is a Tirtha. If unholy people live in a place where there may be a hundred temples, the Tirtha has vanished from that place.
This is the gist of all worship - to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary. He who has served and helped one poor man seeing Shiva in him, without thinking of his caste, or creed, or race, or anything, with him Shiva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples.
It is said in the Shâstra that those who serve the servants of God are His greatest servants.
It is in love that religion exists and not in ceremony, in the
pure and sincere love in the heart. Unless a man is pure in body
and mind, his coming into atemple and worshipping Shiva is
useless. The prayers of those that are pure in mind and body
will be answered by Shiva.External worship is only a symbol of
internal worship; but internal worship and purity are the real
things.People have become so degraded in this Kali Yuga that they think they can do anything, and then they can go to a holy place, and their sins will be forgiven. Tirtha (place of pilgrimage) is a place which is full of holy things and holy men. But if holy people live in a certain place, and if there is no temple there, even that is a Tirtha. If unholy people live in a place where there may be a hundred temples, the Tirtha has vanished from that place.
This is the gist of all worship - to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary. He who has served and helped one poor man seeing Shiva in him, without thinking of his caste, or creed, or race, or anything, with him Shiva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples.
It is said in the Shâstra that those who serve the servants of God are His greatest servants.
You must be pure and help anyone who comes to you, as much as
lies in your power. And this is good Karma. By the power of
this, the heart becomes pure (Chitta-shuddhi), and then Shiva
who is residing in every one will become manifest. He is always
in the heart of every one.
Ignorance and wickedness are the dirt and dust that are on the mirror of our hearts. Selfishness is the chief sin, thinking of ourselves first. He who thinks, "I will eat first, I will have more money than others, and I will possess everything", he who thinks, "I will get to heaven before others, I will get Mukti before others" is the selfish man. The unselfish man says, "I will be last, I do not care to go to heaven, I will even go to hell if by doing so I can help my brothers." This unselfishness is the test of religion. He who has more of this unselfishness is more spiritual and nearer to Shiva. Whether he is learned or ignorant, he is nearer to Shiva than anybody else, whether he knows it or not .
(CW 3 : From Rameswaram Temple address : VOL : 3)
Memories of Swamiji at Rameswaram : http://www.moovyshoovy.com/
Join the year long 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda : sv150.org Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari
Ignorance and wickedness are the dirt and dust that are on the mirror of our hearts. Selfishness is the chief sin, thinking of ourselves first. He who thinks, "I will eat first, I will have more money than others, and I will possess everything", he who thinks, "I will get to heaven before others, I will get Mukti before others" is the selfish man. The unselfish man says, "I will be last, I do not care to go to heaven, I will even go to hell if by doing so I can help my brothers." This unselfishness is the test of religion. He who has more of this unselfishness is more spiritual and nearer to Shiva. Whether he is learned or ignorant, he is nearer to Shiva than anybody else, whether he knows it or not .
(CW 3 : From Rameswaram Temple address : VOL : 3)
Memories of Swamiji at Rameswaram : http://www.moovyshoovy.com/
Join the year long 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda : sv150.org Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari
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