How do we create a sacred space? We go to the temple, church, mosque, pagoda, to pray, to communicate with God, meditate and to be at peace. When we enter a place of veneration, it is the space in our hearts and mind which has to be pristine. Please pause and think.

When we come into a place of worship, what do we experience. We see light. Several lamps or candles are burning. We smell a bouquet of fragrances. We hear bells, and may see the priest waving a tiny broom at the deity. What is happening. We are in the presence of the deity and the lights, fragrances, tinkling sounds or chants, and the little broom (chasing evil thoughts) are cleansing our mind. We are preparing for Bhava which is a devotional state of mind, and atma bhava is love for our fellow beings.

Going to a place of worship

Creation of a sacred space happens when we stop thinking about ourselves. Many of us when we go to a place of worship, we look at the number of people who are there. We are not gazing at their fervor and devotion but at their clothes, and their body odour and how we are getting crushed in the crowd. Especially in India, we have devotees who have travelled days for a darshan. Many temples have enormous halls where pilgrims are resting. I have observed many of my relatives and friends enraged at the behaviour of the crowd and the greed of the priest. I have also done this in my younger days. Now I realise that it is my Me emotions which overtook my spirit and I had come to worship not judge.

So our spiritual practice according to Gwalwang Drupka is about training our mind. He speaks about our inner space and how we must stop seeing the negativity in others and reduce the notion of me and others. Our inner space expands when our ego is reduced. The practice of Atma Bhava is the quickest way of expanding our sacred space. Being non judgemental and seeing ourselves reflected in others.

Aim Hrim Klim