The Process of Worship

Bhagawan made this very beautiful statement: When we look at Swami's picture and think that we are worshipping that picture alone, we are only practising picture worship.  On the other hand, if we visualise that picture in our heart, we internalise the picture.  The picture is in us.  We are the picture and the picture is our noble Self.  Then only One remains.  That is the process and purpose of worship.

But we don't do that.  Rather, we prefer the external trappings of worship, like getting the attention of people and their appreciation of our devotion.

Our mode of worship should altogether be different in the light of what Bhagawan has said.  We do not worship the picture for the sake of the picture.  The picture in front of us is internalised in our heart.  We get lost in the process of preserving it in our heart.  Then we and the picture within, are one and the same.  That is the end, the purpose and the objective of worship.  Thus Swami has declared that everything is based on our thoughts.

(From the book "Sai-chology" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)