Describing Darsan

Darsan (pronounced darshan) means "seeing." A visual perception, specifically of the sacred. What a beautiful concept; seeking awareness of the divine amongst us. Andrew first made me aware of the concept of darsan and it matches so closely the perception of the world I would like to foster and maintain. This blog conversation is my attempt at documenting the divine I see in my interpersonal and natural surroundings.

To give credit where credit is due, darsan is actually a Hindu principle that is often applied to images that are believed to embody the divine. In Hindu tradition, darsan means laying eyes on a religious figure and acknowledging the divine presence that innately dwells there. It seems that this conceptual framework is different than what some would deem idolatrous, but I'm not sure I understand that difference enough to differentiate them for you here.

That being said, I'm going to take the liberty of applying this beautiful concept to my own theological worldview. When acknowledging the trinitarian God who created the world, all the inhabitants of the world, and the natural processes that support this world, we are compelled to believe that each element of creation is a revelation of the Creator. Humanity bears a very specific resemblance to God, as we have been made in the image of God. We are the Imago Dei. It is my quest to appreciate every person I encounter as an "image bearer," a person who is innately significant because of their unique divine reflection. Additionally, we know that the natural world (by this I mean the land, sea, animals and plantlife) is a general reflection of the character and purpose of God. The specifics of God's character and purposes were revealed in the personhood of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, these same traits are revealed in a more general form in the cacophony of the natural world.

It is my desire to live in such a way that fosters an awareness of God's divine reflection in the communities and landscapes of my life. As best I can, I'll be describing darsan. . .