“Devotion” towards God is showed ostentatiously these days. We have large Puja organised havans broadcast live on television, elaborate preparations , publicity advertising. Allegiance towards God is worn on the sleeve, often coming off as jarring tilaks , braclets,pendants. Now a day’s people subscribe to Mantras on sms, patronise “yoga joints” (especially since it has caught up in the US). A yardstick of your love for God is the amount of money you put on this show. Recently a 15lakh cell phone was offered to SiddhiVinayak, the Sai Baba of Shirdi is ordained with numerous Gold offerings, Jain temples springing up in Italian marble. Diamond studded crowns, Gold Kalases. E-bookings, online darshans.
This is what it has come to, instead of we becoming God-like, we have begun portraying God as a market traded commodity. For a great soul who stood naked under a tree for 12 straight years to seek the Absolute we cast him in silk and jewellery. For the Buddha who renounced everything thing we now try trapping him in 24 karat metals. For the Sai baba who lived his whole life in a single garb and slept on barren stone today glitters fancy silk ware and expensive ornaments. Don’t you think somewhere we have missed the point. In our zeal to show our love for him we have made him a mannequin of our own imagination!
Gautama Buddha, was a prince , who did not know what sickness or death meant till he was a young man. He was that ignorant initially , still gained the final knowledge only because he seeked in the right way. Can you realize that his whole life is like a message for us to do the same and true devotion to him would be following his life and introspect so as to improve our own. Do you think he would even care how much money you put in his donation box at the temple?
They came to show us the way, and not for us to pride in our showcases !
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