1246 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 29

TRANSLATION

The devotee should regularly see My statues in the temple, touch My
lotus feet and offer worshipable paraphernalia and prayer. He should see
in the spirit of renunciation, from the mode of goodness, and see every
living entity as spiritual.

PURPORT

Temple worship is one of the duties of a devotee. It is especially recom-
mended for neophytes, but those who are advanced should not refrain
from temple worship. There is a distinction in the manner a neophyte and
an advanced devotee appreciate the Lord’s presence in the temple. A
neophyte considers the arca@-vigraha (the statue of the Lord) to be different
from the original Personality of Godhead; he considers it a representation
of the Supreme Lord in the form of a Deity. But an advanced devotee
accepts the Deity in the temple as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
He does not see any difference between the original form of the Lord and
the statue, or arca form of the Lord, in the temple. This is the vision of a
devotee whose devotional service is in the highest stage of bhava, or love of
Godhead, whereas a neophyte’s worship in the temple is a matter of routine
duty.

Temple Deity worship is one of the functions of a devotee. He goes
regularly to see the Deity nicely decorated, and with veneration and re-
spect he touches the lotus feet of the Lord and presents offerings of
worship, such as fruits, flowers and prayers. At the same time, to advance
in devotional service, a devotee should see other living entities as spiritual
sparks, parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. A devotee is to offer
respect to every entity that has a relationship with the Lord. Because every
living entity originally has a relationship with the Lord as part and parcel,
a devotee should try to see all living entities on the same equal level of
spiritual existence. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, a pandita, one who is learned,
sees equally a very learned brahmana, a sudra, a hog, a dog and a cow. He
does not see the body, which is only an outward dress. !le does not
see the dress of a brahmana, or that of a cow or of a hog. He sees
the spiritual spark, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. If a devotee does
not see every living entity as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, he is
considered prakrta-bhakta, a materialistic devotee. He is not completely
situated on the spiritual platform; rather, he is in the lowest stage of
devotion. He does, however, show all respect to the Deity.

Although a devotee sees all living entities on the level of spiritual
existence, he is not interested in associating with everyone. Simply because
