What does Ritual Represent?

'What does Ritual Represent?' by Swami Krishnananda


Created on Thursday 17 May 2013 16:50

A ritual or a performance represents an attitude, a conduct, expressed outside in action. We may offer a leaf or pour a drop of water on a piece of stone considering that piece of stone as our God. There begins religion. The stone is not God, but our feeling of the presence of a higher power in it is our God. There are psychological aspects of religion – these rituals in all the various forms that we see in temples and in churches, for instance. The devotee kneels down; he looks up; he holds his hands; he bows his head down and he offers a deeply felt prayer through words of utter affection and agonised feeling of devotion. This he does by ritualistic worships, offerings and sacrament.
 
[Extracted from Swami Krishnananda Maharaj's discourses Divine Life Society ]

 

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