There are subtle differences in worship. The chanting of a name( naam jaap), is overt worship; veneration of the idol is subtle worship( sookshma bhakti); with dravya( worship with the external physical substances) is subtler worship, and the subtlest worship is, that which is done with intent( bhaav).
Does moksha occur by following the path of worship, or by following the path of knowledge? When one rail of the path of knowledge is laid and there is another rail of the path of worship, parallel to it, then this train will reach moksha! As much knowledge that is attained that much worship will spontaneously arise. Worship done without the knowledge of the Self yields its results for the worldly life; however, when both( Self knowledge and worship) are done together, there is attainment of moksha! Where the intellect creeps into worship, it becomes a worldly form of worship( apara-bhakti). Nevertheless, the highest form of worship is the worship of the Self( para-bhakti), and the result of that is moksha( Final Liberation). The manifestation of this highest form of worship is the priceless gift of the Akram marg( the step-less path to Liberation)!
[ 20 ] The Guru and The Gnani
Once a person establishes his guru( religious leader, teacher, guide), that guru should not be denounced even if circumstances indicate that he may be delirious. Not only should there be no criticism, but there should not be even a single negative thought about him; this would be considered a tremendous disservice. It can take one all the way to hell.
The one who teaches you what is good and what is bad in the world is a guru. And the one who frees you from good and bad, and places you in the pure( shuddha), Self, is a Gnani.
How much need is there for a guru? Without a guru, not
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