________________
( 140 ) idol is really the God, but that these idols help us in understanding God the preacher of truth. For this reason we must believe in (the efficacy of) the idols of God. Those who do not believe in the idols of God, must not respect their religious books, nor should they take oath on them. The belief in idols includes belief in books. For this reason, we must invoke God through aforesaid idols, remember His virtues, pronounce that He is free from 18 defects and is undefiled. If you believe in this way, then it is not an idol but God Himself. Taking God himself to be present there and knowing that He is from eternity the preacher of true righteousuess (Dharma) and the doer of the greatest good, we must worship Him in accordance with the forms fixed for it. There are different forms of worship. I give here only a very brief account of a particular form of worship called ushtaprakâri pajâ or eightfold devotion.
1. First, wash the image of God with water
full of this thonght "O God Arhat ! as I
