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The prostrating inspires a sense of humbleness, while humbleness inspires such apparently insignificant acts as this - honored by some, disdained by some, ignored by most.
This done heartfully, I recognize my little part, largely unnoticed part, in the world. I am okay walking on Earth, and bowing and prostrating, and engaging other small acts of devotion, myself largely unknown, dying hopefully with one hand in mine or a familiar face nearby - enough.
I need to bow more, prostrate more, say "Yes" more, celebrate my hiddenness and freedom and pain more.
I see, in some small way I am only a metaphor, one solitary word in a poem without beginning, never-ending, where wise ones bow, where courageous beings pray and bow and prostrate and sing, not to please a god or goddess, but out of Love or for no reason at all, at least not one known.
Possibly, when we are thrown down enough times - and we know the pain of that - we are prepared for the humbleness to place ourselves down, in some manner literal or no, not in fear, but respect, in reverence, as part of Life.
* * *
Several years past, I was looking at photos on an online site. I viewed a lovely picture of a woman kneeling in prayerful prostration. I was surprised to read the person who posted the photo had a caption, as I recall, "This I Will Never Do." I still reflect, how sad, if she retains this arrogance, she will never know the joy of such simple acts of Love, the bliss of doing apparently useless acts of devotion, the fruit of a heart in love with the Beloved One.
* * *
Devotional practices are actions expressing adoration, praise, thanksgiving, and love for the Divine. And both theistic and nontheistic paths have these practices.
Earlier in the Way, one initiates devotional practices to express and grow in Grace. In time, these acts become less and less purposeful, more spontaneous. Likewise, the objectivity of the "object" one worships lessens. Finally, one may find herself worshipping without a sense of object-of-worship. So, as with prostration, one acts without a thought of the act directed to or received by anyone or anything.
Yet, to have such an image-of-object is not contrary to the Way, only the object tends to dissolve in a nondual-contemplative path. Why? What one thinks of the Absolute is not the Absolute. Clinging to the "object" can hinder a closer realization of intimacy with pure Spirit.
* * *
But what of actions and being in the stillness of the Silence?
Teachings regarding acts of devotion are of the relative teachings. These teachings, with the acts, assist persons to beyond-teachings and beyond-acts, to rest in the stillness of Silence - the Absolute. However, in the Silence, once stabilized there, one can engage acts as displays of the Silence. Now, one is acting from the Silence, not acting to get to the Silence as in the relative teachings. This play of form in Formless is the dance of the relative within the Absolute. One discovers, while the Silence and the act are not the same, neither are they separate.
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