At the end of this essay you touch upon the topic of Spiritual Guidance as the possible key for embracing the very difficult ordeal of the Spiritual Quest.
But where and how does one find this guidance?
It can be suggested and even described in the best of the ancient and modern (20th century) texts.
But what it does require is the Guidance and Blessing Presence of a living Spiritual Master who has actually Realized the transformed state pointed to and perhaps described in the texts.
The essential role/function of a Living Spiritual Master has always been at the root of the Eastern Spiritual Traditions. Much is also made of the various Lineage Traditions wherein the Transmission of the Master is passed on and thus kept alive from generation to generation. The Buddhist Karmapa Tradition for instance. Such Realized Masters and their exemplary devotees also empower and/or keep alive the Spiritual Presence in their temples via the daily practice of Puja and related rituals.
Thank you for your comment, Jonathan! I probably should have elaborated on why I included the image of the 'Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs.' Within Eastern Christian spirituality, saints such as Sts. John of the Cross, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian exemplify 'theosis' (divinization) and direct communion with God.
Although I can think of no examples of puja in Eastern Orthodoxy, great emphasis is placed on icons -- sacred images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints. Icons are considered windows to the divine and are used in personal and communal devotions. The reverence for icons, saints and their relics shares some parallels with ritual puja and the concept of honoring deities or spiritual beings in Hinduism, et al.
Beautiful.
At the end of this essay you touch upon the topic of Spiritual Guidance as the possible key for embracing the very difficult ordeal of the Spiritual Quest.
But where and how does one find this guidance?
It can be suggested and even described in the best of the ancient and modern (20th century) texts.
But what it does require is the Guidance and Blessing Presence of a living Spiritual Master who has actually Realized the transformed state pointed to and perhaps described in the texts.
The essential role/function of a Living Spiritual Master has always been at the root of the Eastern Spiritual Traditions. Much is also made of the various Lineage Traditions wherein the Transmission of the Master is passed on and thus kept alive from generation to generation. The Buddhist Karmapa Tradition for instance. Such Realized Masters and their exemplary devotees also empower and/or keep alive the Spiritual Presence in their temples via the daily practice of Puja and related rituals.
Thank you for your comment, Jonathan! I probably should have elaborated on why I included the image of the 'Synaxis of the Holy Hierarchs.' Within Eastern Christian spirituality, saints such as Sts. John of the Cross, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian exemplify 'theosis' (divinization) and direct communion with God.
Although I can think of no examples of puja in Eastern Orthodoxy, great emphasis is placed on icons -- sacred images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints. Icons are considered windows to the divine and are used in personal and communal devotions. The reverence for icons, saints and their relics shares some parallels with ritual puja and the concept of honoring deities or spiritual beings in Hinduism, et al.