Question: Why do we have temples, or churches?

Swamiji: Where is the Government of India, please? Is it not everywhere, supporting every one of you? It is a democracy, of the people, by the people, for the people. But to contact the Government of India, one has to go to the offices in Delhi, even though the Government of India reaches all corners of the country. In the same way, God is everywhere—all pervading—but if you want to contact Him, run to the nearest temple.

Q: So if you are not able to find God everywhere, that is the place to look?

S: Temples are places where you practice what you have studied in the scriptural textbooks. They are gymnasiums for the mind. If you tell me, “Swamiji, every day I go to the gymnasium and come back, but my health is still not improving,” I will respond, “Go for another six months.”

Then if your health still has not improved, I will inquire, “What do you do there in the gym?” And I will know exactly what the problem is when you reply, “Swamiji, I go into the gymnasium and sit down there and watch everybody.”

Similarly, you may go to the temple, or church, and watch everyone to see what they are wearing and what they are doing. Then there is no chance for your mental ailment to improve or cure itself. You have to go there and apply your mind to the ideal. Remember, it is a mental gymnasium, not a physical one. Surrender the mind in devotion unto the Lord. He will purify it and return it back to you.

Q: Give it back in better shape?

S: Yes, definitely. Lord Krishna says, “Surrender your mind, I will clean it and give it back to you.” But we are always occupied with asking God for some solution to our problems. “Hey, Krishna! My father is not well, Make him all right!” “Oh, Rama! Please give me the promotion this time.” Our mind is soaked with our own petty problems even when we are in the presence of God in the temple.

A temple is a place where his presence can be contacted directly. Think! A receiving set is necessary to hear the broadcast from Delhi. The sound waves are available in the ether everywhere. But if you want to enjoy the music, you must have a radio and tune in properly to that particular station. The temple is a place conducive for fine-tuning of your mental equipment in order to receive the Divine Message.