Acharya Prashant explains that a place is truly sacred only where Truth is actually visible, and a person is a representative of the Divine only if they reflect that Truth. He clarifies that a temple is not a place where the Supreme comes to sit, but rather, wherever the Supreme is present, that place becomes a temple. He emphasizes that the true Shaligram or Kaaba is found wherever the Soul is realized, whether in a body or an object. According to Kabir Saheb, a saint or Mahatma is one whose mere presence evokes the remembrance of God and serves as living proof of the Divine's existence. Acharya Prashant notes that Kabir Saheb placed great importance on the company of saints, suggesting that one should meet them as frequently as possible, for they are the living manifestations of Truth, unlike dead books or idols. He further discusses how the human ego finds it easier to bow before idols, scriptures, or historical figures because they do not challenge one's pride. However, bowing before a living saint or a common being is difficult for the ego. He critiques the tendency to rely on scriptures as a means to protect the ego, stating that reading books without direct realization only increases vanity. He highlights that Truth can be found in any living being, even an animal like a goat, more easily than in a human caught in ego. He concludes by urging that one should not worship stones or scriptures but should recognize and bow to the Divine wherever it manifests in living form, as the essence of holiness lies in the actual experience of the Supreme.
