SHRADDHA- FAITH
Shraddha is the faith in that which you are
asking for. You should not go to God with a doubt whether He is, or He is not.
“O God, if you are there, please come”. He is certainly there. “God is
certainly there. It is certain that I am going to attain it.
It is certain that the method I am adopting is
correct. It is certain that I am progressing every day. I have symptoms and
experiences which tell me that I am progressing every day”.
Have faith in yourself, faith in the art of the
progressive practice of sadhana, faith in God Himself, faith in the
scripture which are your guides, and faith in the Guru also. Shraddha is
faith in your own self first, faith in the method of practice which you are
adopting, faith in your Guru who has initiated you, and faith in the existence
of God.
Faith in God is the first step to
God-realization. Not an iota of progress is ever possible in the path of
spirituality without faith. The faith must be a living faith. It must be
unwavering faith. Lack of faith is a stumbling block in the path of realization.
Faith develops into Bhakti or
devotion to God. Faith is the gateway to the Kingdom of God. It is the
threshold to the Knowledge of God. Faith gives strength and removes anxieties
and uneasiness of mind. Faith is therefore a powerful mental tonic.
Faith is one of the important
items in the Shad-Sampat or six fold virtues of the four means of salvation or
Sadhana Chatushtaya in the path of Jnana.
Even Patanjali Maharshi, the
exponent of Raja Yoga philosophy lays much stress on faith.
He says:
"Sraddha
veerya smriti samadhi prajna - purvaka itaresham"
(To others
(this Samadhi) comes through faith, energy, memory, concentration and
discrimination of the real.)
He has placed Shraddha
(faith) in the very beginning of this Sutra. He has given prominence to this.
If a man has faith, then energy, memory etc., come by themselves.
He will collect all his energies
and remember the ultimate Tattva and will exert to realize the basic Reality.
Let me repeat the words of the Gita here – “He who is full of faith obtaineth
wisdom, and he also who hath mastery over his senses; and having obtained
wisdom he goeth swiftly to the Supreme Peace.
But the ignorant, faithless,
doubting self goeth to destruction; nor this world, nor that beyond, nor
happiness is there for the doubting self”. (IV, 39-40)
Faith can work miracles. Faith can
work wonders. Faith can move mountains. Faith can reach a realm where reason
dare not enter. There is nothing impossible under the sun for the man of faith
to accomplish.
Have therefore absolute and
unshakable faith in God, in the power of RAMA NAM, in the Vedas and the
scriptures and in the teachings of your Guru and, last but not the least, in your
own self.
In the path of wisdom, shraddha is faith in our srutis,, faith in the need for acquiring the 4 qualifications itself, faith and surrender to the Guru who is to impart Brahma Jnana to you, Faith and conviction that Intense Sadhana is MUST for progress along the lines of Guru's instructions.... so on.....!!
Actually, there is no English translation for the expression and for the experience of " Shraddha".
As a disciple progresses in his sadhana, he actually experiences " shraddha" which he himself will not be able to explain.
In the path of wisdom, shraddha is faith in our srutis,, faith in the need for acquiring the 4 qualifications itself, faith and surrender to the Guru who is to impart Brahma Jnana to you, Faith and conviction that Intense Sadhana is MUST for progress along the lines of Guru's instructions.... so on.....!!
Actually, there is no English translation for the expression and for the experience of " Shraddha".
As a disciple progresses in his sadhana, he actually experiences " shraddha" which he himself will not be able to explain.
This is the master-key for success
in life and God-realization or attainment of Divine Consciousness.
Love.
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