Page 18 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

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12 Mystic pathways through the bible
go beyond all symbols in order to experience the Divine Self. Rather, one should use name and form in the worship of God, but at the same time maintain the understanding that the Divine Self is beyond all names and forms. Therefore, any attempt to limit God by names and forms is an error in thought.
The Difference between Idol Worship and Worshipping God through an Idol
Subtlety of reason is required to understand the difference between idolatry and worshipping God through an idol that one views as a symbol or medium for worship. In the Vedic tradition there is no idolatry. Every form in this tradition is a gateway to the Divine Self. When you worship Rama or Krishna or Lord Jesus, or any Sage or Saint, that object of your worship becomes a window to the Highest.
You are an idolater or an idol worshipper if you consider the idol itself to be the Ultimate Reality. You are not an idol worshipper if the idol is considered to be a symbol of the Absolute Reality. This second attitude towards idols is in no way a contradiction to the commandment. The error of idol worship does not lie in the use of concepts or symbols about God to enhance your worship. The error lies in adopting a biased attitude about God, in developing the notion that whatever concept or symbol you have relied