Why we worship

 

For a flame to rise up, you need space above it. In the same way, for a man to rise up in his life, he needs an ideal, something to adore and worship. In worship, love, honor, respect and a sense of belongingness all come together. However, without a sense of belongingness, worship or idealism can lead to low self-esteem. Ancient people knew this so they insisted that people should feel a part of what they worship. They encouraged people to worship the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, plants, animals and other people. 

Worship is the culmination of love and appreciation. Worship prevents love from turning into hatred or jealousy, and prevents appreciation from becoming low self-esteem. In life, if you do not adore or appreciate anything, you will be filled with negativity; a person who has nothing to worship or adore is sure to fall into depression. 

Lack of adoration has led to many emotional, psychological and social problems in society. If you have nothing to hold high in life, selfishness, arrogance and violence are sure to follow. Adoring and honoring each other in society eliminates stress and fosters compassion and love. 

In the previous century, it was thought that worshipping was an uncivilized and unintelligent thing to do. Worship was thought to rise from a slavish mentality. In fact, it is just the contrary. Worship can only happen through gratefulness and not through subservience. Worship in a true sense is a sign of maturity and not of weakness. 

So, if worship is the culmination of love, does worship also have a culmination? The culmination of worship is self-knowledge, samadhi.

With all due respect - to reverence and adoration

 

Whatever you revere becomes bigger than you. When you have reverence in all your relationships, then your own consciousness expands. Then to you even small things become big and significant. Every little creature becomes dignified. It is the reverence in a relationship that will save it. 

When you have reverence for the whole universe, you are in harmony with the whole universe. And then you do not need to reject or renounce anything. 

You often do not have reverence for what you own and losing that reverence happens unconsciously. Reverence in ownership frees you from greed, jealousy and lust. Cultivate the skill of having reverence every moment of your life. 

Adoration demonstrates the magnanimity of the one who adores, rather than the one who is adored. Adoration is a sign that the ego has become transparent; the best antidote for ego is adoration. 

Adoration works in three ways:

• For an egoistic person, adulation for someone else is not palatable. If the adoration is for you, it boosts your ego. But if you adore someone else, it dissolves your ego and makes you magnanimous. 
• Desiring adoration is a sign of immaturity. Aversion to adoration is small-mindedness. A lack of adoration in life is dryness and boredom. 
• A healthy mind always likes to adore others, elevate them. An unhealthy mind likes to pull everything down.

Adoration indicates the trust, enthusiasm and richness of a culture. Lack of adoration indicates a society that is self-centered, small-minded, fearful and culturally impoverished. 

Adoration does not sway the one who is great. The test of a person’s greatness is that he is not shaken by any amount of adoration. Being indifferent to adoration when it comes to you and being magnanimous in giving it is the way of the wise.