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The Pearl of Wisdom
"Wisdom Study Version"
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From the book, "The Pearl of Wisdom" or "Guru Mani",
by His Holiness, M. R. Bawa Muhaiyadddeen
(may God be pleased with Him, and with Us)
About The Book "The Pearl of Wisdom"
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Chapter 13
- Original Version -
"The Four Ways of Worship"
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Go To "Wisdom Outline"- For "Chapter 13"
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His Holiness Teaches Us:
Disciple:
Swami, the elders speak of several gods and worship them uttering many things.
Is that a good path or is it bad?
Teach us, O revered Guru.
Guru:
Children, gems of my eyes. Listen. I shall tell you.
Worship is the most supreme form of a sacred act. It is very, very rare indeed for anyone to achieve this. Worship has somehow got divided into four categories. Prayer has been deviated from the one path. Each form of worship has been divided into four stages. I shall describe them to you. Listen.
01. A person worships because others worship.
02. A person worships for show. He prides himself carrying beads, rolls them in his hands
and exhibits his worship.
03. A person worships for his stomach. It is a selfish device to develop his body on the
pretence of worshipping God. He roams here and there, winks his eyes, disturbs the
minds of others and snatches away their rights.
04. The fourth person melts the inner heart, dispels falsehood, destroys the eye of Maya
( torpor ), meets ideas point by point, right with right, makes friends with the heart and
believes that the Only One is the Dependable, Trustworthy One.
The first three types of persons forget the true nature of man and indulge in a form of worship that is tricky, wrongful and materialistic.
In such a situation,
Where is Grace?
Where has man’s character flown away?
Where is he?
They say,
“We have cooked eighteen dishes of high quality,”
and imagine and convince themselves it is so, while they eat the salt less and tasteless food.
The most exalted of these four types is the person who is well clarified and knowledgeable. His heart is full of happiness and light and overflows with kindness. He does not meander from the path. He raises his hands in true worship, night and day and day and night, with every breath, with every word, and every right feeling in his heart. His attention does not meander here and there. He raises his hands in true faith with a melting heart. He dispels deception and his whole body vibrates with continuous worship. He is the one whose conduct is the most excellent among these four groups. He will escape manthras. He will not be trapped by praise or pleasure. He will not be caught by the eye or by display or by show.
He awaits with great expectation, day by day, for clarity and for the perfect guru. He performs his duty fully and awaits the blessings for his dutiful service.
Do you see, gems of my eyes. Do you see the difference between the worship of the person whom I have just described on the one hand, and the others?
Clarify yourself and be submissive to the true guru.
Disciple:
Swami, I have a certain doubt. I shall tell it to you. Please explain. Is it right or wrong to establish places of worship in various places, such as the kovil ( Hindu temple ) and the mosque and display certain signs, symbols and words?
Swami, O revered guru, tell me the significance of this.
Guru:
Dear son, let me tell you.
Did you not understand? Nevertheless, I shall explain it to you. Listen.
Divisions like the kovil and the mosque should exist. The world must also appreciate their existence.
But the Motionless One, who is beyond all comprehension or knowledge cannot be loved through these places of worship.
I shall tell you more. Listen.
Does an embryo formed within the womb know its mother and father ? No, it does not. Likewise, it becomes necessary to enlarge one’s knowledge, analyse and discriminate.
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This page was last updated on: May 22, 2012
