Idol worship does not just refer to statues, pictures, or images on walls.
An image preserved in the mind and followed with total reverence is also a form of idol worship.
Hero worship or revering certain personalities can also be considered idol worship—even if we do not keep their pictures or statues before us.
Every religion and its followers respect and follow their founders, Gurus, Messiahs, and Prophets.
People across cultures and faiths look up to great personalities as role models or idols, honoring them in their own ways.
The story of Jesus and the symbol of the cross are central to Christianity.
The whole ideology revolves around Jesus Christ.
For them, Jesus Christ is the only way to connect with God.
The personality of Prophet Muhammad is central to Islam.
He is regarded as the final prophet and the sole path to pleasing Allah.
Islam is incomplete without mentioning Prophet Muhammad and acknowledging his supremacy.
In Sikhism, the reverence - the worship and prayers offered to their Holy Book form the core of their worship.
While the object of their devotion differs, the practices and rituals are not different at all.
The holy fire in the Yagna-Kund is the very center of the Vedic rituals of Arya Samaj.
Yet, everyone claims that only Hindus are idol worshippers.
It is easy to blame and criticize others without reflecting on the beliefs, rituals, and practices within one’s own religion.
Often, people think only they are right and everyone else is wrong.
However, by thinking objectively and rationally, we may find that the same things we criticize in others also exist within ourselves.
True gyana—true spiritual wisdom—is to realize the oneness of God in many forms and the unity of humanity.
Everyone should be free to worship in their own way, and at the same time, it is vital to respect the customs and feelings of others.
Unity—not in uniformity, but in diversity—is the only way to bring harmony and peace to the world.
" Rajan Sachdeva "
For them, Jesus Christ is the only way to connect with God.
The personality of Prophet Muhammad is central to Islam.
He is regarded as the final prophet and the sole path to pleasing Allah.
Islam is incomplete without mentioning Prophet Muhammad and acknowledging his supremacy.
In Sikhism, the reverence - the worship and prayers offered to their Holy Book form the core of their worship.
While the object of their devotion differs, the practices and rituals are not different at all.
The holy fire in the Yagna-Kund is the very center of the Vedic rituals of Arya Samaj.
Yet, everyone claims that only Hindus are idol worshippers.
It is easy to blame and criticize others without reflecting on the beliefs, rituals, and practices within one’s own religion.
Often, people think only they are right and everyone else is wrong.
However, by thinking objectively and rationally, we may find that the same things we criticize in others also exist within ourselves.
True gyana—true spiritual wisdom—is to realize the oneness of God in many forms and the unity of humanity.
Everyone should be free to worship in their own way, and at the same time, it is vital to respect the customs and feelings of others.
Unity—not in uniformity, but in diversity—is the only way to bring harmony and peace to the world.
" Rajan Sachdeva "
Very well said! I couldn’t agree more.
ReplyDeleteAs it was clearly explained in this post , idols are not just limited to the spiritual avenue. One can find his idol at work , a child may consider his parents his idol , a victim may see the police officer that saved him as an idol , a dog may see his owner as an idol. There are unlimited forms of idols , and their existence solely depends on a persons perspective. For example, consider a statue of some God. This statue will remain an idol only as long as there are those whose perspective aligns as such, otherwise that statue is nothing but an object with little meaning. Perspectives give idols their value , thus condemning other people’s idols is condemning their culture and perspectives.
Although all idols are different in nature , there is still one similarity behind them all. They are all creations of this One Formless Nirankar. We should continue to relish the idols in our life, but also see the truth behind each idol which is Nirankar. If we are able to this, we don’t just connect with the temporary idol, but rather the truth.
Thank you for sharing Ji.
Idol worship is an accepted norm in Hinduism. To me "IDOL" symbolises concentration of mind to focus on n then to proceed with prayers. One can say to keep some object/image/ thing in mind, it's not convenient to meditate. Even in Sikhism, Muslims, Christians, pics/statutes constitute "IDOLS'. IDOL shouldn't be 'IDLE' but 'IDEAL'.
ReplyDelete