old3bob Posted August 19 "Idol worship" is fundamentally and totally misunderstood in the Abrahamic religions but not in some "eastern" ways per this quote: So strange to some but not others... "SHLOKA 108 We worship God Siva and the Gods who by their infinite powers spiritually hover over and indwell the image, or murti, which we revere as their temporary body. We commune with them through the ritual act of puja. Aum. BHASHYA The stone or metal Deity images are not mere symbols of the Gods; they are the form through which their love, power and blessings flood forth into this world. We may liken this mystery to our ability to communicate with others through the telephone. We do not talk to the telephone; rather we use a telephone as a means of communication with another person who is perhaps thousands of miles away. Without the telephone, we could not converse across such distances; and without the sanctified murti in the temple or shrine we cannot easily commune with the Deity. His vibration and presence can be felt in the image, and He can use the image as a temporary physical-plane body or channel. As we progress in our worship, we begin to adore the image as the Deity's physical body, for we know that He is actually present and conscious in it during puja, aware of our thoughts and feelings and even sensing the pujari's gentle touch on the metal or stone. The Vedas exclaim," Come down to us, Rudra, who art in the high mountains. Come and let the light of thy face, free from fear and evil, shine upon us. Come to us with thy love.”Aum Namah Sivaya.” GURUDEVA" Edited Saturday at 09:12 AM by old3bob 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dwai Posted August 19 Nice post! We worship a vigraha - an idol becomes a vigraha after consecration following proper method of prana pratishtha. The energy of the deity is established in the murti. Once consecrated, the vigraha and the temple where it is located become the abode of the deity. https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/wisdom/article/prana-pratishtha-the-science-of-consecration# 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doc benway Posted August 26 On 8/19/2024 at 9:19 AM, old3bob said: "Idol worship" is fundamentally and totally misunderstood in the Abrahamic religions but not in some "eastern" ways per this quote: So strange to some but not others... I guess it's possible this practice is "fundamentally and totally misunderstood" but I think it's also possible that it is reasonably well understood but that a different approach is preferable to some in both East and West. Some prefer not to use fixed images to represent and communicate with deities but rather prefer words and ideas. Some prefer letting go of all images, even words and ideas, and being open to what is left when all tangible representations are released. Different strokes and all that... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted August 26 (edited) "Idol worship" is fundamentally and totally misunderstood in the Abrahamic religions... " Well this could be better qualified by saying those that see idol worship as a sin and error along with those who violently tear down temples, destroy idols and cause great harm to or murder the people that use them as totally misunderstanding the practice. Many Christians and Muslims have done so against native, and eastern faiths and its peoples. (taking place in and around India, along with the far and middle east being major areas where it has happened as recorded in history or is happening now) For example and described as: "Convert or die" is a policy that forces religious group to renounce their faith or identity under the threat of death or harm. These policies can cause physical harm, but they often cause long-term mental harm to the individuals who are forced to convert. The Genocide Convention considers "convert or die" policies to be genocide, even though (or if, my add-in) they don't involve the "physical or biological destruction of a group". Edited August 27 by old3bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
