Puja Pain

This story was narrated by Bhagavan during the Summer Course in ’79. It relates to the folly of worshipping a guru but not following his teachings.

Once there was a noble guru who had a disciple. One afternoon the guru had gone somewhere and returned home in the hot sun. The disciple was performing the worship of the guru by reciting the 108 names and offering flowers at the feet of his guru’s picture. The guru, returned in the blazing heat of the sun, his bare feet being scorched by the hot earth, asked the disciple to open the door. But the disciple would not open the door until he had finished the puja [worship]. The poor guru had to stand in the hot sun until he had completed his worship to this same guru!

What is the use of such worship that causes pain to the real form of the guru standing outside? There are many devotees who do this type of worship without caring for the teachings of the Lord.